IRIDESCENT
CHAPTER | ONE
She'd received a phone call that morning, the minutes ticking by as the day blended into a mess of tears and heartbreak. Two tragedies had occurred in the last twelve hours, two bodies in the hospital and one butting heads with death.
When Savannah had gotten home the night before, opening the front door and swinging into the living room with a wide smile, she'd met her brother's worried eyes and a vacant couch.
Cheryl Blossom had disappeared into the night – gone, without a word. Her crimson hair tousled by the light winter breeze as she, patiently, made her way back toward Thornhill. Her eyes glistening with embers as she struck a match and watched as the flames engulfed her childhood home.
"Mother tried to save me." She had told Savannah, her voice was steady and void of emotion. "She's in the hospital."
The red-haired girl gently laid her head on the brunette's shoulder, eyelashes fluttering as she closed her bright eyes.
Savannah let out a sigh, her sight set on the woman wrapped in bandages, the white fabric hiding what would be very harsh and vibrant scars.
Her mind strayed from Penelope Blossom as she thought of Jughead Jones, the boy who was in the same hospital, just a few doors down.
Her lips tingled as she thought of their kiss, of how he had smiled afterward, an uncharacteristic expression for the brooding Jones boy.
Then, just as quickly, the smile that spread across her own face, fell. With Jughead Jones came Archie Andrews.
The second tragedy that had befell them that night was that Fred Andrews, the single last soul that had been left untarnished by the darkness that surrounded Jason Blossom's death, had been shot by a hooded man.
Archie's hands had been covered in blood, coating the bed of his fingernails. Last she'd heard, Veronica had managed to convince him to go home and shower. Although, the situation must have changed, she guessed, as Veronica sat beside Josie near the vending machines.
"How is Archie?"
Jughead whirled around to see her gazing back at him, eyes soft and curious. Her hair had been scraped back into a messy ponytail and she had no makeup on - the telling signs of a tiresome night.
"As good as can be expected." Jughead told her, unable to stop himself from moving toward her. "How's Cheryl?"
"As good as can be expected." Savannah repeated his words back to him.
The boy smiled, and the girl attempted to commit the image to memory. Her hand sought his out, fingers interlacing with his own.
"Did you sleep?"
His question seemed so mundane, too ordinary for a situation like theirs. A life was hanging in the balance, and all she could think about was how he suited his hair messy, dark tufts sticking up in all directions.
"Barely." Savannah told him, glancing down at their joined fingers, her toes just a few inches away from his thick boots. "I came home and Cheryl had vanished, she wasn't answering her phone, I was worried."
Jughead nodded but didn't say anything.
They stood there, basking in the silence for a while, both extremely aware of their touching fingertips.
Savannah peered over his shoulder, taking in a ragged Betty and a tired Kevin amongst the supporting Pussycats and Bulldogs.
"How did you get here anyway?" Savannah asked the boy suddenly, her eyebrows pinching together in thought.
The trailer park was a little while from the Hospital.
Jughead grinned impishly, "Took the bike."
"Your dad's bike?" She asked curiously.
"Yeah," He nodded excitedly. "I never understood the lure of a motorcycle before."
Savannah shook her head with a soft smile, "Let me guess, you're a changed man?"
Jughead merely shared her smile and turned to look at Betty over his shoulder. "Uh, I hope you don't mind but... Betty and I were going to Pop's. Archie can't find his dad's wallet and he's at the station doing a lineup, so..."
Savannah felt the familiar green monster start to swirl in her stomach, but she pushed it down the best that she could. "Why would I mind?" She said sweetly.
"Just cause you know, Betty and I kissed before..." Jughead said awkwardly, "You and I kissed last night."
"As long as you don't go kissing any other girls, I think we'll be fine." Savannah told him, stepping forward as if to repeat last night's actions.
A blonde popped up behind Jughead, causing the brunette to take a step back, pulling her hand back to her side.
"Sorry to interrupt." Betty held her hands up in surrender, "Archie just called to see if we've found the wallet, so I think we should go."
Jughead opened his mouth to say something to Savannah, but the brunette shook her head quickly.
"We'll talk when you're back, don't be long." She said quietly, pressing a quick kiss to his cheek. "And bring me back a burger."
Jughead grinned at the girl and nodded, looking to Betty who fell into step with him, the two leaving the hospital together.
Savannah couldn't help but feel relieved at the large gap that Jughead left between them as they walked away. It seemed to somewhat settle her stomach at the stomach churning image of Betty clinging to Jughead as they flew down the streets of Riverdale.
It wasn't long after Betty and Jughead had gone that Archie reappeared at the hospital. His girlfriend had vanished, chasing after her mother who was headed in the direction of the Chapel.
He was greeted by Reggie, who told him of the Bulldogs support, and Josie, who insisted that the Pussycats were there for him too. Archie seemed to scan the room for an even more familiar face, only setting eyes upon Kevin and Savannah, who sat in the corner with a plastic cup of hot chocolate.
"Archie." The brunette murmured, placing her cup down on the table and hurrying over to him.
"Savannah." He nodded to her, his mind swirling with the thoughts that plagued his mind.
"I'm not going to ask how you are." She told him, reaching forward to place her hand on his shoulder in comfort. "Just know that we're here for you, okay?"
"Thanks." Archie gave a half-smile, one that didn't quite meet his eyes, which considering the circumstances, she didn't expect it to.
"Archie," A man dressed in blue and white approached them, either a doctor or a nurse, Savannah didn't quite know. "He's in room 12. You can see him."
"Okay, great." Archie moved around the man, when he was quickly called back.
"Listen, he hasn't woken up yet, but talk to him." He advised, "Coax him back. Keep it positive, honestly, that can make all the difference."
Savannah watched Archie turn around again, and in an instant, she was by his side. She linked her arm through his, understanding how, wordlessly, he didn't want to be alone right now. With Betty and Jughead at Pop's and Veronica with her mother, Savannah was the only one left.
Archie didn't look at the girl as they made their way down the narrow hallways of the hospital, her hand felt hot against his jacket, feeling her touch on his skin despite the thick fabric. When they reached the room, his non-broken hand reached across to cover her own.
A silent thank you to the girl.
"Would you like me to stay outside?" Savannah asked him quietly, hazel eyes peering up at the tall boy.
"Please."
There was a solid black chair just outside the door, which Savannah eyed with distaste but took a seat anyway, allowing Archie some alone time with his father.
He left the door open, and Savannah could hear every word that he spoke. Every heartbroken word that fell from his dry, cracked lips felt like a knife to the chest, twisting and turning to draw out the agony that was as arduous as a single gunshot.
She waited until he grew silent to stand and appear in the doorway, her phone held up as a sign, almost like evidence. "Jughead and Betty are on their way back."
Archie nodded and stood, letting go of his father's hands without another word. He sent one more look of longing before joining the girl by the door and stepping into the hallway with her.
They didn't speak as they headed back toward the waiting room, and this time, Savannah did not reach for him. It was as if he were too fragile at this point in time, and she did not nearly know him well enough to be that crutch that he needed.
Truthfully, and with no offence to Veronica, what he needed right then, was Betty.
The raven-haired girl appeared just as Archie stepped aside to get some water. She smiled at Savannah, who stepped forward to give the girl a hug. She didn't think that it would be very easy, seeing her boyfriend in so much pain.
Veronica moved away from Savannah when Archie turned back to them, stepping forward with a small gift bag in her hand. "For your dad, when he wakes up. Very, very soon."
Archie opened up the box with little difficulty, surprising considering his injury. His eyes settled on a leather wallet and a small laugh escaped his lips.
"Just to tide him over until we find his tried and true." Veronica said with pep.
"When did you even go to Barnaby's?"
"I didn't." Veronica admitted, glancing down. "I sent Smithers. Is that cheating?"
The two moved closer to embrace and Savannah felt as if she were interrupting a moment. She turned her back and walked away, until she couldn't hear the soft words spoken between the two lovebirds.
"Who's hungry?" Jughead announced to the group, a collection of food gathered in he and Betty's arms. Savannah didn't want to know how they managed to get that from Pop's on his bike. "We've got burgers and fries and onion rings."
The group of teenagers in the room hopped to their feet, hollering as they all crowded around the two. Kevin leapt up and joined the stampeed as Savannah stood back, her eyes locked onto the dark-haired boy who was passing out food.
Amongst all this, somehow, Betty had slipped away from the group and popped up next to Savannah. "As promised." She piped up, holding out a cheeseburger to the girl, "Just cheese, no sauce or pickles, how you like it."
Savannah frowned and opened her mouth to speak when Betty sent a meaningful look in the Jones boy's direction. An action to which she couldn't help but smile.
"I swiped some fries for Cheryl, I wasn't sure what she'd eat."
"Thank you." Savannah said to the girl sincerely. Her eyes flickered over to Jughead once more. "Let him know that I'll see him later, okay?"
"Okay." Betty nodded with a smile.
It was certainly an image. A flock of teenagers cheering in the waiting room of a hospital, such an ironic picture, as people fought for their lives and horror was the generic atmosphere of this place. Nurses tried to quieten the noise whilst a brunette pushed through the hoard, trying to find her friend who was floating around the hospital.
And she found her, standing outside Fred Andrew's hospital room, hands clasped behind her back.
"Betty got you some fries, she wasn't sure if you'd want them." Savannah held them up as an offer.
"No thank you." Cheryl replied, her voice void of emotion, much like how she had been since her brother died.
A girl who faced far too much tragedy, and met each hurdle head on. Everyone had assumed her family was perfect, until the death of Jason Blossom tore back the curtains to see the ugly truth of the matter.
A mother who abused her daughter, blamed her for her son's death, when the reality had been staring her in the face. The ring on her finger symbolised her bond to the man who killed her son, her very own husband.
Not perfect. Tragic.
"Would you apologise to your brother for me?" Cheryl asked quietly.
"You have nothing to apologise for." Savannah frowned at the girl, thinking of her brother, who had to go to work and couldn't have joined them.
"Is he picking you up soon?" Cheryl ignored the girl's answer, still facing away from her.
"I can stay as long as you'd like -"
"I think I'd like to be alone for now, if that's okay?"
Savannah wanted to say no, she wanted to stay and comfort her friend in her time of need, but if she didn't want her there, then she'd leave. Archie was in good hands with his best friends and girlfriend, he didn't need her imposing on their moment.
"Okay," Savannah nodded, swallowing thickly. "I'll stop by tomorrow."
"That's kind of you."
"Let me know if you need anything." Savannah encouraged, "I'm only a phonecall away."
"I will, thank you." Cheryl said wistfully, "Now if you'll excuse me, I'd like to pay Fred Andrews a visit."
a/n: Hey guys! Sorry it took FOREVER for me to get this chapter out, I've been exceptionally lazy, I apologise. I'm trying not to make this book as jumpy as the last one because I know I rushed things and I plan to go back and fix them eventually. Anyways, hope you enjoyed!
(Also, let me know if there are any mistakes, I can't see them after I've written cause I just read it the same way :) Thanks! )