A year was a long time. It was even longer when you were away from the friends that felt like family and the town that was home. Millicent Miller's entire life was in Riverdale, but her mother had taken her siblings and her away. Millie was ripped away from the boy who she swore was her soulmate and the girl who felt like her sister. She was taken from the studio she learned to dance in and the town that taught her to have pep. Then, the fire happened.
The Miller children were returning to Riverdale and nothing was as it once was.
"Jason," Millie called through the widest of smiles. She was sitting cross-legged on Cheryl Blossom's bed with her hands widespread. Cheryl was painting her nails "Maple Blossom Red" – the signature color of the family. Jason Blossom leaned against the doorway, watching them. "I didn't know you'd be home."
"If it isn't my two favorite girls," Jason said, ignoring Millie's obvious lie.
"It's a good thing you're here, JayJay," Cheryl answered, ignoring the flirting between the two. Her best friend and her brother had been in love since sixth grade when the opposite sex stopped having cooties. "Perhaps you can convince Mimi that athleisure isn't appropriate attire for every day."
"I told you that I have class in an hour. I was hoping Jason could drive me." Jason kissed the top of Millie's head and sat down beside her. He only had his permit, but that never stopped him from driving her around. After all, who was going to pull over a Blossom?
"If you two weren't my most favorite people, I would find you love revolting. I still might," Cheryl announced. Neither believed her. The three felt they could never be torn apart.
A lot had happened in a year. Jason and Millie decided long distance would never work. Cheryl found minions to spend time with. Millie danced until her feet bleed and danced some more. She pushed her siblings away from her and barely answered her messages. She let her childhood friends slip away.
The last week in June, the three Miller children were sent to visit their father in his home in Riverdale. Millie had intended to stay in hiding until she received a text message from Cheryl Blossom. It read:
Word around the ballet barre is that you're back in town. You may not have time to answer my calls, but you should know that Jayjay dumped the dumbest blonde in town.
The next time Millie went to the studio, Jason Blossom was waiting by the door.