Archie Andrews' eyes stirred as he heard his alarm clock rang. It was another day of pouring cement for the summer. This summer was different, as Andrews Constructions was under the leash of Lodge Enterprises, much to the reluctance of Fred Andrews himself. After Clifford Blossom's demise, Fred regained his original crew and was able to continue the normal schedule. What supplanted his reluctance was his need to provide for his son, Archie, and... Jughead Jones.
Archie gazed over and saw Jughead was still asleep on his inflated mattress. Jughead had been staying with the Andrews since his father had been incarcerated for kidnapping Jason Blossom for ransom, although more often than not, Jughead would find his way over at the Cooper's. Tiptoeing out of the room, Archie made his way downstairs.
"Top off the morning skipper, much earlier than the last two days, I think that work ethic is finally making you into a man," Fred Andrews grinned, before sipping on his coffee.
"So does that mean I'll be able to finally operate the bulldozer," he asked, already knowing the answer.
"You just barely have had your license. What makes you think you're ready for the Big Leagues when you can barely parallel park?
"Dad, I don't think there are too many places where you really need to parallel park in Riverdale. At least until Hiram Lodge builds five more strip malls and a giant town centre."
Fred chuckled. "By that time, you can drive around your new beau. God willing Hiram Lodge doesn't push to bankrupt me out of spite. Then you would probably have to settle for driving a jalopy..."
"We're not a... I've been talking to her and texting over the summer but I wouldn't call us a thing. I guess we'll see what happens." Veronica had gone to Paris with her mother for the summer to stay under the radar while Hiram had setup his estate in Riverdale.
"Do you miss her?" he asked intently.
Archie paused, taking a breath before answering. "I do... but not in the same way as I felt when I was missing someone else."
"Dear God, you don't mean..."
"No dad, not her. Someone else, and it's not exactly the same kind of thing."
After finishing their breakfast, Archie and his father made their way to the construction site, only to meet two see unexpected figures: Hermione and Veronica Lodge.
"Fred, good to see you again. I come bearing gifts," Hermione said. She held a decently sized plastic bag full of souvenirs, while using her other arm to hug Fred. Fred accepted the hug in a very obsequious manner.
"Hermione, I wasn't expecting to see you here considering the circumstances of our last meeting".
Hermione let out a restrained response. "Fred, even though I'm now the COO of Lodge Industries, doesn't mean we will stop having a working relationship. Hiram wants me to routinely make firsthand reports of the progress."
"I'm sure it's strictly based on professional reasons. Nothing else," Fred scoffed.
"Yes Fred, because you hired me strictly based on professional reasons."
Unbeknownst to their parents, Archie and Veronica had quietly moved away from their parent's kerfuffle and had been catching up on what happened during the summer- at least what they had not talked about earlier through phone conversations and texts. Veronica talked extensively about how she preferred the wider range options of French cuisine compared to Riverdale, while Archie talked about how he was reading more poetry for musical inspiration.
"I was wondering if you were going to bring back some guy named Pierre," Archie joked.
"Archie Andrews, ye of little faith. I should be more worried about you given your impressive track record the past year."
"Well in that case, I'm going to be having a much less interesting year this year." Archie planted a kiss on her cheek as they continued walking with both their hands held together.
"Archie, my dad hasn't- you know- done anything, has he?" Veronica asked cautiously. "I'm just taking a gander that by the fact your dad's face is still intact- and good-looking, I may add- I figured nothing too crazy has happened."
Archie's face looked down in consternation. "My dad has not been in contact with Hiram at all this year. He's been communicating through one of his associates. Otherwise, nothing. No company e-mail or nothing. My dad would be relieved if he weren't fearing some kind of... retribution?"
"Good to see you've been studying your vocabulary over the summer, given I recall you not knowing the word "wistful."
"That's what hours of reading poetry will get you. Maybe I can show you some I wrote this summer. Some I actually wrote... about you."
Veronica looked overjoyed but before she could say anything, Archie's dad called from the distance. "Archie, we're behind schedule. We need to finish this section by today."
Archie looked at Veronica meekly. "Pop's later tonight?"
"That would be lovely," she answered gleefully.
Fred's crew worked tirelessly that day, feeling a little worn out from the more humid than usual temperature found during the dog days of summer. Archie was kind of relieved summer was nearly ending. It meant only working during weekends, and even then football games took a bulk of that time, so he more often than not worked every other weekend. When Archie got home, he was anxious to take a shower and maybe play a video game or two before dinner. When he entered his room, he instead saw two people inside, one of whom was his soulmate.
"Archie," Betty said surprised. "I'm sorry to have come in without asking."