FIC: "Wish You Were Ear" (V/W) PG-13
Title: Wish You Were Ear
Author: angel_grace
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Veronica/Weevil
Spoilers: through S2 finale, “Not Pictured”
Summary: Approximately one year after the events of the S2 finale, Veronica reconnects with Weevil. They end up an unexpected trip to the Happiest Place on Earth…where they just might find happiness together.
Disclaimer: The characters depicted here were created by Rob Thomas. They are used without permission. No copyright infringement is intended, and no profit is being made from their use.
Author’s Note: This story was written in response to the Weevil Create-a-thon challenge at vm_outstanding. The prompt requested Weevil in a wifebeater, with a stipulation of no Weevil/Lilly. All mentions of Johnny Depp are entirely the fault of monimala. Finally, although I am a complete Disney junkie, most of my experiences have been at the parks in Florida. It's been a few years since I was in CA, so I hope the details are accurate.
Veronica stood just inside the door of the body shop, the dimness of the interior offering a small respite from the heat outside. Neptune was experiencing an unseasonably warm spring; Veronica could feel a bead of sweat snaking its way down her back, along her spine.
She hadn’t seen Weevil since he’d been released from prison a couple months earlier, and she knew that her father wouldn’t be thrilled if he knew she was there now. She’d meant to come sooner, but the end of her freshman year at Hearst had been rapidly approaching, and she was swamped by the work.
She stepped further inside the building, her eyes still adjusting after the brightness outdoors. She spotted a pair of legs jutting out from beneath an old Chevelle that had definitely seen better days. Walking over to the car, she cleared her throat loudly and waited.
After a moment, he slid out from under the car, the wheels of the creeper moving easily across the concrete floor. He gazed up at her for a moment, his expression betraying no surprise at seeing her there. He didn’t say anything as he clambered to his feet, and she wondered what he was thinking.
As was her habit, she studied him intently. He looked different than she remembered. She’d gone to see him in prison a few times, but the jumpsuit hid a lot. Now, the top of his coveralls dangled from his waist, and the white wifebeater he wore revealed at least two new tattoos on his arms and shoulders. Apparently, he’d spent most of his time in jail doing push-ups or something, if the sharply defined muscles on his arms were anything to go by.
He grinned suddenly, the flash of white teeth bright in the dingy garage. “Nice to know some things never change,” he remarked wryly.
She felt herself immediately go on the defensive, and had to throttle back the emotion. Why was she so on edge? This was just Weevil, after all. She smiled back, although it felt a little forced. “How’ve you been?” she asked lamely.
“Not bad. You know, just working, meeting with my parole officer, the usual.”
She nodded, her talent for witty repartee suddenly failing her.
He cocked his head to one side, gave her a funny look. “You come here for a reason, V?”
He was obviously expecting her to say yes, to explain whatever dirty work she needed done, to call in whatever favor he might owe her. Maybe it would be easier if that was why she was here. “No, not really.” I just wanted to see you.
She wondered if he heard the unsaid words, because one eyebrow shot up and he nodded. “You wanna go someplace else? It’s hotter than shit in here.”
“Sure.”
She watched while he scrubbed the grease off his hands and forearms; waited while he went into the tiny bathroom to change out of his coveralls and into a faded pair of jeans. When he emerged, he was pulling a short-sleeved shirt on over the wifebeater, leaving it unbuttoned.
They didn’t speak as they exited the garage, both of them squinting in the glare of the sunlight. He followed her to her car and slid easily into the passenger seat.
“It’s hotter than shit out here, too,” she said as she turned the key in the ignition.
“Further proof that Neptune is actually Hell,” he pointed out.
“Does that make Lamb Satan?” she asked.
“Nah, Lamb ain’t smart enough to be Satan. One of his minions, maybe.”
“True.”
“So how’s college life?”
“Done for the summer. I took my last final yesterday. I’m pretty sure I even passed it.”
He shot her a look. “Somehow I don’t think you need to worry.”
She shrugged. “It’s a hell of a lot harder than high school was. On the plus side, there are fewer ‘09ers.”
“Speaking of the exalted ones, how is Echolls?”
Her fingers tightened on the steering wheel. “I wouldn’t know. We broke up.”
“Again?” His voice was laced with sarcasm, and she glared at him.
Logan might have thought their relationship was epic, but Veronica had decided that epic wasn’t necessarily a good thing. For the past three months, they’d done almost nothing but fight, and while the make-up sex was good, in the end it hadn’t been enough. They weren’t in high school anymore, and dating a guy who thought getting drunk with Dick Casablancas was a good time just wasn’t appealing.
Actually, that hadn’t been appealing even when they were in high school.
“For good this time,” she insisted. “I ended it three weeks ago when he showed up drunk and puked on my calculus notes.”
“Charming.”
“My dad’s thrilled, of course. He’s never exactly been Logan’s biggest fan.”
Weevil nodded. “The Sheriff’s a smart man.”
She grinned. “You’re always going to call him that, aren’t you?”
“Long as he keeps callin’ me Eli.”
Veronica steered the car onto the PCH, heading north. The top was down on the convertible, the hot wind fighting with the cold blast of air from the LeBaron’s air conditioner. He didn’t ask where they were going, and she didn’t offer the information. A sunny afternoon on the PCH beat the hell out of sweating under the old Chevelle.
“I meant to come by sooner,” Veronica said. “After you got out, I mean.”
He waved away the implied apology. “I know you were busy.”
“I was. But I should have made the time. Wallace is always giving me crap about not spending enough time with my friends.”
He looked at her, a little surprised. “Is that what we are? Friends?”
She looked back at him for a moment, then returned her eyes to the road. “Aren’t we?”
“I don’t know. I mean, don’t friends do stuff together, like go to Disneyland and shit?”
She laughed. “You want to go to Disneyland?” she asked, her tone teasing.
He scowled. “It was just an example, V.”
She tossed him her cell phone. “Call your uncle.”
“What for?”
“Tell him you’re taking the rest of the day off. We’re going to Disneyland.”
He just stared at her. “You sure you’re feeling okay?”
“Never better. Now make the call.”
By the time they reached Anaheim, it was just past noon. Even though it was a weekday, the parking garage was fairly crowded, and Veronica wondered just how busy the park would be. Weevil seemed to be thinking along the same lines. “You sure this is a good idea?” he asked.
“Of course!” she said, with more confidence than she felt. “This is what friends do, remember?”
He smiled and shook his head. Typical Veronica.
She put the top up on the convertible, and they climbed out, stretching gratefully after the long drive.
“So when was the last time you were here?” she asked.
He thought for a moment. “I’m not sure. Probably not since I was seven or eight.”
She gaped at him. “Seriously? Wow.”
He shrugged. “No big deal. I never felt like I was missing much. I liked the roller coasters at Magic Mountain better anyway.”
She looked crestfallen. “I know I pretty much kidnapped you, but if you don’t want to do this, we can just leave.”
He hurried to reassure her. “Hell no! I’m not leaving ‘til I see you in mouse ears.”
She gave him a wicked grin. “I was thinking the same thing.”
“Now wait just a second…”
When they finally made it inside the park, they were already roasting. Weevil was down to his wifebeater again, while Veronica had pulled her hair into a sloppy bun to keep it off her neck. She grabbed a park map as they walked in, and unfolded it in front of them. “What do you want to do first?”
“You lead the way. I barely remember any of the rides.”
She took a quick look at the list of attractions. “Well, since it’s approximately a thousand degrees out, how about Splash Mountain?”
“Sounds good to me.”
They made their way over to Critter Country, stopping only to buy some ridiculously overpriced bottles of water. When they reached the entrance to Splash Mountain, Weevil glanced at the posted wait time and balked. “An hour and a half?”
“Only for amateurs.”
“What, you know some secret way in?”
“Kind of.” She led him over to the Fastpass machines, and explained how the system worked. “Now, while these poor fools wait in line, we can go do something else until our time comes up.”
He looked a little skeptical, but nodded. “Okay, but what are we going to do instead?”
Her smile was positively giddy. “My favorite ride of all time.”
“I’m almost afraid to ask.”
“It’s not bad, I promise.”
He stared at her, wondering just what he had gotten himself into. “So what is it?”
“Pirates of the Caribbean.”
“What, like the movie?” he scoffed.
“Yeah, but I loved it long before that. Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom just add to the fun.”
“You know they aren’t actually on the ride, right?”
“Actually, they added a Jack Sparrow figure last year.”
“You’re kidding me.”
“Nope. Now come on!”
They backtracked through the park to New Orleans Square, Veronica moving confidently through the throngs of people. The queue area for the ride was dark and cool, probably twenty degrees cooler than it was outside. The line moved quickly, and soon they were climbing into the boat.
The ride lasted about fifteen minutes, but when it was over, Weevil really didn’t remember much of it-he had been too busy watching Veronica. She had gone through the entire attraction with a huge grin on her face, laughing at her favorite scenes and sighing dreamily at the likeness of Johnny Depp. Aside from the fact that they’d obviously never been to Disneyland together, they truly had never done anything like this before. He had been serious earlier when he questioned whether they were actually friends. It wasn’t like they had ever hung out-there had always been a murder investigation in the way.
Veronica was still beaming when they exited the ride, chattering excitedly about how her dad had gotten her 21 Jump Street on DVD for Christmas. She glanced at her watch. “We’ve still got some time before Splash Mountain. Since we’re already here, we may as well go on the Haunted Mansion, if you don’t mind.”
He shrugged. “Fine by me.”
This time around, Weevil tried to pay attention, and he had to admit he enjoyed the somewhat campy ride. It wasn’t at all scary, and he worried the theme music might be stuck in his head all day, but overall it was fun.
Veronica was on a roll now, and she swiftly led the way back to Splash Mountain. He admitted he was impressed when they only had to wait ten minutes before boarding the ride. “You’ve done this a lot, haven’t you?”
She nodded. “My mom and dad used to bring me here a few times a year when I was younger. Now, dad and I make an annual trip. He’s going to be jealous that I came without him.”
“He won’t be thrilled that you came with me, either.”
She opened her mouth to deny the claim, but realized he was right. “Well…no. It’s not that he dislikes you, you know.”
“He just doesn’t trust me.”
She didn’t need to answer him. The conversation lapsed as they made their way through the ride, and Veronica braced herself for the big drop she knew was coming. Even so, she let out a scream as they plummeted down, and she heard Weevil shout behind her. The ride more than lived up to its name-they were drenched when it was over. Weevil tried not to stare at the way her wet clothes clung to her body, and she did her best not to notice that the thin white cotton of his shirt was nearly transparent.
“So,” he said as he tried to wring out some of the excess moisture, “does this place have any roller coasters?”
For the rest of the afternoon, they made their way around the park. Veronica used every trick she knew to try and maximize their ride time. By the time they stopped for dinner, they had gone on at least a dozen more rides, including the Indiana Jones Adventure, Big Thunder Mountain, and Space Mountain. She even dragged him onto Peter Pan’s Flight and those damn spinning teacups. He put his foot down at It’s a Small World, however.
Dinner consisted of burgers and fries at a fast-food restaurant in Fantasyland. Veronica thought longingly of the prime rib at the Blue Bayou, but this impromptu day trip was expensive enough as it was.
“Are you having fun?” she asked him in the middle of the meal. She thought he was enjoying himself, but a little reassurance would be nice.
“Yeah. It’s not exactly how I was planning to spend my day, but it’s good. I’m glad we came.”
She smiled at him. “So am I.”
“What time do you need to head back to Neptune? Won’t your dad wonder where you are?”
“He’s in Denver. Besides, the park’s open until midnight, and I have my cell. Unless you need to get back…”
“Nah, I’m good.”
They finished eating, and walked back out into the heat and crowds. Weevil gazed up at the nearby Matterhorn Mountain. “What about that ride?”
“We’ll get to it,” she assured him. “Just not quite yet.”
“So what are we doing next?”
She shrugged. “Do you mind if we just walk for a while? If we see something we want to do, then we can.”
“Sure.”
They began to meander through Fantasyland. The crowd was a little thinner, probably because many people had stopped for dinner, or perhaps they’d finally succumbed to the heat of the day and gone home.
“I should bring Ophelia here sometime,” Weevil commented, his eyes locked on a dark-haired little girl clutching a Mickey-shaped ice cream bar. “I don’t think she’s ever been.”
Veronica smiled at him. “I bet she’d like that. Do you get to see her often?”
“Often enough. Her mom is always working, so she’s at the house with my grandmother a lot.”
“Your family seems really close.”
“I guess. That’s just the way things have always been.”
“I’d like to have that someday, I think-a big family.”
“You and your dad seem tight.”
“I know. But it can get a little lonely, just being the two of us.” She glanced up and spotted a familiar shop. “You know, I should get him a souvenir. Wait here-I’ll just be a few minutes.”
Before he could object, she was gone, swallowed up by the surging mass of people. He found a nearby bench, and sat down to wait. He watched the people passing by-little kids still excited after a long day at the park; frazzled parents with tired eyes; elderly people smiling down at their grandchildren; groups of chattering teenage girls; young couples holding hands.
Twenty minutes ticked past. He started to wonder if Veronica was ever coming back when she suddenly appeared in front of him, clutching a plastic bag emblazoned with the park logo.
“Find what you were looking for?”
“Yep,” she said with a grin. She reached into the bag and pulled out a pair of Mickey Mouse ears…ears that said “Eli” on the back. “They wouldn’t let me put ‘Weevil’ on them.”
He shook his head rapidly. “No. No way, Veronica.”
“Oh come on, it’ll be fun. Look, I bought myself a pair too.” She reached back into the bag and pulled out another set, which she placed carefully on her head.
He had to smile at the picture she presented. “Those make you look about twelve years old.”
“So? It’s Disneyland. Besides, it’s not like we’re ever going to see any of these people again.”
“Uh-uh. I don’t do mouse ears.”
She narrowed her eyes at him. “I think you’re underestimating my powers of persuasion.”
“Sweetheart, unless you’re planning to do a striptease right here in front of Dumbo, I don’t think there’s anything you can do to get me to wear those ears.”
A speculative gleam came into her eyes, and she took a step closer to him. “You know,” she said, trailing one small finger down the center of his chest, “I’m not above using my feminine wiles to get what I want.” She heaved an exaggerated sigh and backed away. “But since this is a family park, I guess I’ll never find out if they would have worked.”
She stuffed the ears back in the shopping bag and turned away from him.
Damn, she was good. He stared at her back for a split second before grabbing her lightly by the wrist and spinning her back around. He tugged her close, her small frame fitting flush against his body. “What exactly did you have in mind?” he asked, his voice low and dangerous.
Her breathing hitched slightly as she tried not to show how much this was affecting her. She knew she was playing a dangerous game here, one she didn’t think he would just let her walk away from. “Put on the ears,” she said slowly, “and I promise you’ll find out later.”
His eyes were dark as he met her gaze. “I’m going to hold you to that, V,” he said.
“I’m counting on it.” She took a step back, and pulled the ears out again. Silently, she held them out to him.
“If you laugh, the deal’s off,” he warned, taking them from her.
“I won’t,” she assured him. But she did smile once the ears were in place atop his head. They actually didn’t look too bad, but knowing his reputation as a Big Bad Biker in Neptune made the whole thing absurd. “Come on,” she said, linking her arm through him, “the Matterhorn awaits.”
It was just past eight o’clock when they reached the entrance to the Matterhorn, where the posted wait time was an hour and a half, just like Splash Mountain that morning. “Do you want to skip it?” Weevil asked.
“I don’t mind waiting.”
The line moved slowly, and Veronica and Weevil didn’t talk much. She had let go of his arm when they got in line, and he couldn’t help wondering what the hell was going on. There had always been an element of flirtation and innuendo to their banter, but they had never crossed a line to anything physical. Her earlier words had him thinking that might be about to change.
By the time it was their turn to board the ride, it was around 9:30, and the booms from the nightly fireworks could be heard. Weevil glanced down at the ride car, looked over at the way other people were climbing in. This could be…interesting.
He climbed into the car first, settling in, his legs straddling the bench seat. As he fastened the safety belt, Veronica got in, sitting on the bench in front of him, just between his legs. She fastened her own seat belt, then waited while the ride attendant gave the car a cursory inspection. Once he had moved on, Veronica scooted back. At first Weevil thought she was just trying to get comfortable, but then she kept moving, working her way backward until she was practically on top of him, the curve of her ass nestled firmly against his crotch. He inhaled sharply at the initial contact, then tried not to squirm as all his blood went rushing south.
“You’re playing with fire, chica,” he murmured into her ear.
Her only reply was to lean back until she was resting against his chest.
He brought his hands up to rest on her hips; his thumbs crept beneath the hem of her shirt to brush her bare skin, and he felt her shudder slightly in his arms.
The ride took off, and he told himself that now wasn’t the right time for further exploration. Instead, he just enjoyed the feel of her against his body. The train burst out from one of the tunnels in the mountain, and the entire park was lit up below them, while fireworks exploded over their heads. Suddenly he understood why she had wanted to wait to go on this ride. He was impressed by how well she had timed it.
All too soon, the ride was over. Once they were back on the park pathway, he caught her by the hand and pulled her over into a darkened nook. “I told you that you were playing with fire,” he said softly, snaking one hand around her waist and threading the other in her hair. He stared down at her. “Last chance.” When she didn’t pull away, he tipped his head down and kissed her. Her lips tasted like strawberry lip gloss, and he explored them slowly.
Veronica wrapped her arms around his neck and responded to the kiss. His moustache tickled her upper lip and she smiled, her lips parting slightly. She felt his tongue probe her mouth, and she allowed him to deepen the kiss. Tongues brushed, tasted, sending a jolt of electricity down to her toes.
The kiss was leisurely and thorough-and one of the most erotic things Veronica had ever experienced. Finally they broke apart, their breathing heavy. Veronica smiled a little shyly and took his hand in hers. “Come on,” she said. “There’s one more thing I want to do before we leave.”
“What can there possibly be left to see?” he asked.
She grinned. “You’ll see.”
As they made their way across the park, Weevil noticed that most of the other people were headed in the same direction. Still clutching his hand, Veronica threaded her way expertly through the crowd, ever so sweetly forcing people out of her way. Eventually, they ended up alongside a river, where a large throng of people was gathered. Veronica wormed her way to the front, pulling Weevil along behind her. They staked out a spot and refused to budge. Weevil stood behind Veronica, his arms wrapped around her waist.
“You ever going to tell me what this is?” Weevil asked.
“It’s called Fantasmic,” she replied. “There are lasers and fireworks and all sorts of cool effects. I think you’ll like it.”
“I’m sure I will,” he agreed, holding her just a little bit tighter.
By the time the show was over and they had fought their way to the front gate-with a few stops in the shops along Main Street-it was midnight. Veronica was yawning by the time they got back to the parking garage. “I really don’t want to drive all the way back to Neptune tonight,” she mumbled.
“I can drive if you’re too tired,” he offered.
She stared down at the keys in her hand. She was silent for a moment, obviously considering her next words carefully. She seemed to make a decision, and looked him directly in the eyes. “Actually, I was thinking we could just stay here.”
“What, in the car?”
She laughed softly. “No, in a hotel.”
He gazed at her intently. “What are you saying, Veronica?”
She took a deep breath. “I guess I’m saying that I’m not done playing with fire.”
-end-
Cross-posted to head_tilt and angel_grace.
Author: angel_grace
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Veronica/Weevil
Spoilers: through S2 finale, “Not Pictured”
Summary: Approximately one year after the events of the S2 finale, Veronica reconnects with Weevil. They end up an unexpected trip to the Happiest Place on Earth…where they just might find happiness together.
Disclaimer: The characters depicted here were created by Rob Thomas. They are used without permission. No copyright infringement is intended, and no profit is being made from their use.
Author’s Note: This story was written in response to the Weevil Create-a-thon challenge at vm_outstanding. The prompt requested Weevil in a wifebeater, with a stipulation of no Weevil/Lilly. All mentions of Johnny Depp are entirely the fault of monimala. Finally, although I am a complete Disney junkie, most of my experiences have been at the parks in Florida. It's been a few years since I was in CA, so I hope the details are accurate.
Veronica stood just inside the door of the body shop, the dimness of the interior offering a small respite from the heat outside. Neptune was experiencing an unseasonably warm spring; Veronica could feel a bead of sweat snaking its way down her back, along her spine.
She hadn’t seen Weevil since he’d been released from prison a couple months earlier, and she knew that her father wouldn’t be thrilled if he knew she was there now. She’d meant to come sooner, but the end of her freshman year at Hearst had been rapidly approaching, and she was swamped by the work.
She stepped further inside the building, her eyes still adjusting after the brightness outdoors. She spotted a pair of legs jutting out from beneath an old Chevelle that had definitely seen better days. Walking over to the car, she cleared her throat loudly and waited.
After a moment, he slid out from under the car, the wheels of the creeper moving easily across the concrete floor. He gazed up at her for a moment, his expression betraying no surprise at seeing her there. He didn’t say anything as he clambered to his feet, and she wondered what he was thinking.
As was her habit, she studied him intently. He looked different than she remembered. She’d gone to see him in prison a few times, but the jumpsuit hid a lot. Now, the top of his coveralls dangled from his waist, and the white wifebeater he wore revealed at least two new tattoos on his arms and shoulders. Apparently, he’d spent most of his time in jail doing push-ups or something, if the sharply defined muscles on his arms were anything to go by.
He grinned suddenly, the flash of white teeth bright in the dingy garage. “Nice to know some things never change,” he remarked wryly.
She felt herself immediately go on the defensive, and had to throttle back the emotion. Why was she so on edge? This was just Weevil, after all. She smiled back, although it felt a little forced. “How’ve you been?” she asked lamely.
“Not bad. You know, just working, meeting with my parole officer, the usual.”
She nodded, her talent for witty repartee suddenly failing her.
He cocked his head to one side, gave her a funny look. “You come here for a reason, V?”
He was obviously expecting her to say yes, to explain whatever dirty work she needed done, to call in whatever favor he might owe her. Maybe it would be easier if that was why she was here. “No, not really.” I just wanted to see you.
She wondered if he heard the unsaid words, because one eyebrow shot up and he nodded. “You wanna go someplace else? It’s hotter than shit in here.”
“Sure.”
She watched while he scrubbed the grease off his hands and forearms; waited while he went into the tiny bathroom to change out of his coveralls and into a faded pair of jeans. When he emerged, he was pulling a short-sleeved shirt on over the wifebeater, leaving it unbuttoned.
They didn’t speak as they exited the garage, both of them squinting in the glare of the sunlight. He followed her to her car and slid easily into the passenger seat.
“It’s hotter than shit out here, too,” she said as she turned the key in the ignition.
“Further proof that Neptune is actually Hell,” he pointed out.
“Does that make Lamb Satan?” she asked.
“Nah, Lamb ain’t smart enough to be Satan. One of his minions, maybe.”
“True.”
“So how’s college life?”
“Done for the summer. I took my last final yesterday. I’m pretty sure I even passed it.”
He shot her a look. “Somehow I don’t think you need to worry.”
She shrugged. “It’s a hell of a lot harder than high school was. On the plus side, there are fewer ‘09ers.”
“Speaking of the exalted ones, how is Echolls?”
Her fingers tightened on the steering wheel. “I wouldn’t know. We broke up.”
“Again?” His voice was laced with sarcasm, and she glared at him.
Logan might have thought their relationship was epic, but Veronica had decided that epic wasn’t necessarily a good thing. For the past three months, they’d done almost nothing but fight, and while the make-up sex was good, in the end it hadn’t been enough. They weren’t in high school anymore, and dating a guy who thought getting drunk with Dick Casablancas was a good time just wasn’t appealing.
Actually, that hadn’t been appealing even when they were in high school.
“For good this time,” she insisted. “I ended it three weeks ago when he showed up drunk and puked on my calculus notes.”
“Charming.”
“My dad’s thrilled, of course. He’s never exactly been Logan’s biggest fan.”
Weevil nodded. “The Sheriff’s a smart man.”
She grinned. “You’re always going to call him that, aren’t you?”
“Long as he keeps callin’ me Eli.”
Veronica steered the car onto the PCH, heading north. The top was down on the convertible, the hot wind fighting with the cold blast of air from the LeBaron’s air conditioner. He didn’t ask where they were going, and she didn’t offer the information. A sunny afternoon on the PCH beat the hell out of sweating under the old Chevelle.
“I meant to come by sooner,” Veronica said. “After you got out, I mean.”
He waved away the implied apology. “I know you were busy.”
“I was. But I should have made the time. Wallace is always giving me crap about not spending enough time with my friends.”
He looked at her, a little surprised. “Is that what we are? Friends?”
She looked back at him for a moment, then returned her eyes to the road. “Aren’t we?”
“I don’t know. I mean, don’t friends do stuff together, like go to Disneyland and shit?”
She laughed. “You want to go to Disneyland?” she asked, her tone teasing.
He scowled. “It was just an example, V.”
She tossed him her cell phone. “Call your uncle.”
“What for?”
“Tell him you’re taking the rest of the day off. We’re going to Disneyland.”
He just stared at her. “You sure you’re feeling okay?”
“Never better. Now make the call.”
By the time they reached Anaheim, it was just past noon. Even though it was a weekday, the parking garage was fairly crowded, and Veronica wondered just how busy the park would be. Weevil seemed to be thinking along the same lines. “You sure this is a good idea?” he asked.
“Of course!” she said, with more confidence than she felt. “This is what friends do, remember?”
He smiled and shook his head. Typical Veronica.
She put the top up on the convertible, and they climbed out, stretching gratefully after the long drive.
“So when was the last time you were here?” she asked.
He thought for a moment. “I’m not sure. Probably not since I was seven or eight.”
She gaped at him. “Seriously? Wow.”
He shrugged. “No big deal. I never felt like I was missing much. I liked the roller coasters at Magic Mountain better anyway.”
She looked crestfallen. “I know I pretty much kidnapped you, but if you don’t want to do this, we can just leave.”
He hurried to reassure her. “Hell no! I’m not leaving ‘til I see you in mouse ears.”
She gave him a wicked grin. “I was thinking the same thing.”
“Now wait just a second…”
When they finally made it inside the park, they were already roasting. Weevil was down to his wifebeater again, while Veronica had pulled her hair into a sloppy bun to keep it off her neck. She grabbed a park map as they walked in, and unfolded it in front of them. “What do you want to do first?”
“You lead the way. I barely remember any of the rides.”
She took a quick look at the list of attractions. “Well, since it’s approximately a thousand degrees out, how about Splash Mountain?”
“Sounds good to me.”
They made their way over to Critter Country, stopping only to buy some ridiculously overpriced bottles of water. When they reached the entrance to Splash Mountain, Weevil glanced at the posted wait time and balked. “An hour and a half?”
“Only for amateurs.”
“What, you know some secret way in?”
“Kind of.” She led him over to the Fastpass machines, and explained how the system worked. “Now, while these poor fools wait in line, we can go do something else until our time comes up.”
He looked a little skeptical, but nodded. “Okay, but what are we going to do instead?”
Her smile was positively giddy. “My favorite ride of all time.”
“I’m almost afraid to ask.”
“It’s not bad, I promise.”
He stared at her, wondering just what he had gotten himself into. “So what is it?”
“Pirates of the Caribbean.”
“What, like the movie?” he scoffed.
“Yeah, but I loved it long before that. Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom just add to the fun.”
“You know they aren’t actually on the ride, right?”
“Actually, they added a Jack Sparrow figure last year.”
“You’re kidding me.”
“Nope. Now come on!”
They backtracked through the park to New Orleans Square, Veronica moving confidently through the throngs of people. The queue area for the ride was dark and cool, probably twenty degrees cooler than it was outside. The line moved quickly, and soon they were climbing into the boat.
The ride lasted about fifteen minutes, but when it was over, Weevil really didn’t remember much of it-he had been too busy watching Veronica. She had gone through the entire attraction with a huge grin on her face, laughing at her favorite scenes and sighing dreamily at the likeness of Johnny Depp. Aside from the fact that they’d obviously never been to Disneyland together, they truly had never done anything like this before. He had been serious earlier when he questioned whether they were actually friends. It wasn’t like they had ever hung out-there had always been a murder investigation in the way.
Veronica was still beaming when they exited the ride, chattering excitedly about how her dad had gotten her 21 Jump Street on DVD for Christmas. She glanced at her watch. “We’ve still got some time before Splash Mountain. Since we’re already here, we may as well go on the Haunted Mansion, if you don’t mind.”
He shrugged. “Fine by me.”
This time around, Weevil tried to pay attention, and he had to admit he enjoyed the somewhat campy ride. It wasn’t at all scary, and he worried the theme music might be stuck in his head all day, but overall it was fun.
Veronica was on a roll now, and she swiftly led the way back to Splash Mountain. He admitted he was impressed when they only had to wait ten minutes before boarding the ride. “You’ve done this a lot, haven’t you?”
She nodded. “My mom and dad used to bring me here a few times a year when I was younger. Now, dad and I make an annual trip. He’s going to be jealous that I came without him.”
“He won’t be thrilled that you came with me, either.”
She opened her mouth to deny the claim, but realized he was right. “Well…no. It’s not that he dislikes you, you know.”
“He just doesn’t trust me.”
She didn’t need to answer him. The conversation lapsed as they made their way through the ride, and Veronica braced herself for the big drop she knew was coming. Even so, she let out a scream as they plummeted down, and she heard Weevil shout behind her. The ride more than lived up to its name-they were drenched when it was over. Weevil tried not to stare at the way her wet clothes clung to her body, and she did her best not to notice that the thin white cotton of his shirt was nearly transparent.
“So,” he said as he tried to wring out some of the excess moisture, “does this place have any roller coasters?”
For the rest of the afternoon, they made their way around the park. Veronica used every trick she knew to try and maximize their ride time. By the time they stopped for dinner, they had gone on at least a dozen more rides, including the Indiana Jones Adventure, Big Thunder Mountain, and Space Mountain. She even dragged him onto Peter Pan’s Flight and those damn spinning teacups. He put his foot down at It’s a Small World, however.
Dinner consisted of burgers and fries at a fast-food restaurant in Fantasyland. Veronica thought longingly of the prime rib at the Blue Bayou, but this impromptu day trip was expensive enough as it was.
“Are you having fun?” she asked him in the middle of the meal. She thought he was enjoying himself, but a little reassurance would be nice.
“Yeah. It’s not exactly how I was planning to spend my day, but it’s good. I’m glad we came.”
She smiled at him. “So am I.”
“What time do you need to head back to Neptune? Won’t your dad wonder where you are?”
“He’s in Denver. Besides, the park’s open until midnight, and I have my cell. Unless you need to get back…”
“Nah, I’m good.”
They finished eating, and walked back out into the heat and crowds. Weevil gazed up at the nearby Matterhorn Mountain. “What about that ride?”
“We’ll get to it,” she assured him. “Just not quite yet.”
“So what are we doing next?”
She shrugged. “Do you mind if we just walk for a while? If we see something we want to do, then we can.”
“Sure.”
They began to meander through Fantasyland. The crowd was a little thinner, probably because many people had stopped for dinner, or perhaps they’d finally succumbed to the heat of the day and gone home.
“I should bring Ophelia here sometime,” Weevil commented, his eyes locked on a dark-haired little girl clutching a Mickey-shaped ice cream bar. “I don’t think she’s ever been.”
Veronica smiled at him. “I bet she’d like that. Do you get to see her often?”
“Often enough. Her mom is always working, so she’s at the house with my grandmother a lot.”
“Your family seems really close.”
“I guess. That’s just the way things have always been.”
“I’d like to have that someday, I think-a big family.”
“You and your dad seem tight.”
“I know. But it can get a little lonely, just being the two of us.” She glanced up and spotted a familiar shop. “You know, I should get him a souvenir. Wait here-I’ll just be a few minutes.”
Before he could object, she was gone, swallowed up by the surging mass of people. He found a nearby bench, and sat down to wait. He watched the people passing by-little kids still excited after a long day at the park; frazzled parents with tired eyes; elderly people smiling down at their grandchildren; groups of chattering teenage girls; young couples holding hands.
Twenty minutes ticked past. He started to wonder if Veronica was ever coming back when she suddenly appeared in front of him, clutching a plastic bag emblazoned with the park logo.
“Find what you were looking for?”
“Yep,” she said with a grin. She reached into the bag and pulled out a pair of Mickey Mouse ears…ears that said “Eli” on the back. “They wouldn’t let me put ‘Weevil’ on them.”
He shook his head rapidly. “No. No way, Veronica.”
“Oh come on, it’ll be fun. Look, I bought myself a pair too.” She reached back into the bag and pulled out another set, which she placed carefully on her head.
He had to smile at the picture she presented. “Those make you look about twelve years old.”
“So? It’s Disneyland. Besides, it’s not like we’re ever going to see any of these people again.”
“Uh-uh. I don’t do mouse ears.”
She narrowed her eyes at him. “I think you’re underestimating my powers of persuasion.”
“Sweetheart, unless you’re planning to do a striptease right here in front of Dumbo, I don’t think there’s anything you can do to get me to wear those ears.”
A speculative gleam came into her eyes, and she took a step closer to him. “You know,” she said, trailing one small finger down the center of his chest, “I’m not above using my feminine wiles to get what I want.” She heaved an exaggerated sigh and backed away. “But since this is a family park, I guess I’ll never find out if they would have worked.”
She stuffed the ears back in the shopping bag and turned away from him.
Damn, she was good. He stared at her back for a split second before grabbing her lightly by the wrist and spinning her back around. He tugged her close, her small frame fitting flush against his body. “What exactly did you have in mind?” he asked, his voice low and dangerous.
Her breathing hitched slightly as she tried not to show how much this was affecting her. She knew she was playing a dangerous game here, one she didn’t think he would just let her walk away from. “Put on the ears,” she said slowly, “and I promise you’ll find out later.”
His eyes were dark as he met her gaze. “I’m going to hold you to that, V,” he said.
“I’m counting on it.” She took a step back, and pulled the ears out again. Silently, she held them out to him.
“If you laugh, the deal’s off,” he warned, taking them from her.
“I won’t,” she assured him. But she did smile once the ears were in place atop his head. They actually didn’t look too bad, but knowing his reputation as a Big Bad Biker in Neptune made the whole thing absurd. “Come on,” she said, linking her arm through him, “the Matterhorn awaits.”
It was just past eight o’clock when they reached the entrance to the Matterhorn, where the posted wait time was an hour and a half, just like Splash Mountain that morning. “Do you want to skip it?” Weevil asked.
“I don’t mind waiting.”
The line moved slowly, and Veronica and Weevil didn’t talk much. She had let go of his arm when they got in line, and he couldn’t help wondering what the hell was going on. There had always been an element of flirtation and innuendo to their banter, but they had never crossed a line to anything physical. Her earlier words had him thinking that might be about to change.
By the time it was their turn to board the ride, it was around 9:30, and the booms from the nightly fireworks could be heard. Weevil glanced down at the ride car, looked over at the way other people were climbing in. This could be…interesting.
He climbed into the car first, settling in, his legs straddling the bench seat. As he fastened the safety belt, Veronica got in, sitting on the bench in front of him, just between his legs. She fastened her own seat belt, then waited while the ride attendant gave the car a cursory inspection. Once he had moved on, Veronica scooted back. At first Weevil thought she was just trying to get comfortable, but then she kept moving, working her way backward until she was practically on top of him, the curve of her ass nestled firmly against his crotch. He inhaled sharply at the initial contact, then tried not to squirm as all his blood went rushing south.
“You’re playing with fire, chica,” he murmured into her ear.
Her only reply was to lean back until she was resting against his chest.
He brought his hands up to rest on her hips; his thumbs crept beneath the hem of her shirt to brush her bare skin, and he felt her shudder slightly in his arms.
The ride took off, and he told himself that now wasn’t the right time for further exploration. Instead, he just enjoyed the feel of her against his body. The train burst out from one of the tunnels in the mountain, and the entire park was lit up below them, while fireworks exploded over their heads. Suddenly he understood why she had wanted to wait to go on this ride. He was impressed by how well she had timed it.
All too soon, the ride was over. Once they were back on the park pathway, he caught her by the hand and pulled her over into a darkened nook. “I told you that you were playing with fire,” he said softly, snaking one hand around her waist and threading the other in her hair. He stared down at her. “Last chance.” When she didn’t pull away, he tipped his head down and kissed her. Her lips tasted like strawberry lip gloss, and he explored them slowly.
Veronica wrapped her arms around his neck and responded to the kiss. His moustache tickled her upper lip and she smiled, her lips parting slightly. She felt his tongue probe her mouth, and she allowed him to deepen the kiss. Tongues brushed, tasted, sending a jolt of electricity down to her toes.
The kiss was leisurely and thorough-and one of the most erotic things Veronica had ever experienced. Finally they broke apart, their breathing heavy. Veronica smiled a little shyly and took his hand in hers. “Come on,” she said. “There’s one more thing I want to do before we leave.”
“What can there possibly be left to see?” he asked.
She grinned. “You’ll see.”
As they made their way across the park, Weevil noticed that most of the other people were headed in the same direction. Still clutching his hand, Veronica threaded her way expertly through the crowd, ever so sweetly forcing people out of her way. Eventually, they ended up alongside a river, where a large throng of people was gathered. Veronica wormed her way to the front, pulling Weevil along behind her. They staked out a spot and refused to budge. Weevil stood behind Veronica, his arms wrapped around her waist.
“You ever going to tell me what this is?” Weevil asked.
“It’s called Fantasmic,” she replied. “There are lasers and fireworks and all sorts of cool effects. I think you’ll like it.”
“I’m sure I will,” he agreed, holding her just a little bit tighter.
By the time the show was over and they had fought their way to the front gate-with a few stops in the shops along Main Street-it was midnight. Veronica was yawning by the time they got back to the parking garage. “I really don’t want to drive all the way back to Neptune tonight,” she mumbled.
“I can drive if you’re too tired,” he offered.
She stared down at the keys in her hand. She was silent for a moment, obviously considering her next words carefully. She seemed to make a decision, and looked him directly in the eyes. “Actually, I was thinking we could just stay here.”
“What, in the car?”
She laughed softly. “No, in a hotel.”
He gazed at her intently. “What are you saying, Veronica?”
She took a deep breath. “I guess I’m saying that I’m not done playing with fire.”
-end-
Cross-posted to head_tilt and angel_grace.