1993

The summer had been too long for FP Jones. He had wanted nothing more than to get back to Riverdale High where he could be with his friends, play football and talk to girls. He wanted nothing more from life. He parked his Harley in its usual spot at the corner of the lot. He took off his helmet and looked around. This was his senior year, his final year in highschool. He sighed at the thought, what the hell was he going to do next year? Sure he and Fred had been tossing around the idea of starting a company together but FP wasn't sure if construction was what he saw in his future. He didn't see much in his future if he was being honest.

FP was still staring into space when Fred Andrews crept up behind him and smacked him on the ass "What's cookin' good lookin'?"

FP barked out a laugh "you know Fred, there's a reason the gay rumours only subsided last year"

Fred looked at him seductively "who said that they were rumours?"

FP looked at the red head who was coming their way "pretty sure it was your girlfriend."

The smaller boy paled at the sight "Oh God, you have to hide me man."

FP frowned as Fred cowered behind him "dude she's already seen us, she's literally staring right at you."

Mary Higgins bounded towards them "hello FP, hello Frederick."

Fred emerged and smiled at his girlfriend "hey babe, I was just checking the tag on FP's jeans. Boot-cut. Nice."

FP held back his laughter "glad to have your approval."

Mary sighed "Fred I don't have time for this, you need to walk me to class."

Fred's shoulders slumped and FP had to clamp his hand over his mouth. The happy couple walked away, one was beaming the other was near tears. Mary had set her sights on Fred at the end of junior year and what Mary wanted, she got. She had been relentless at the start and then suddenly she stopped trying and began ignoring him, which had obviously made Fred fall for her. Their relationship had been rocky all summer and FP knew that it was only a matter of days before they ended things.

He began walking towards the main entrance, bag slung on one shoulder. A lot of people walked up to him to say hi and to ask about his summer. He was somewhat of a big deal in school, not that he thought that himself. People seemed to gravitate towards him, of course being starting quarterback for the Bulldogs might have had something to do with that. This town was obsessed with football. It's all anyone really cared about, which FP thought was completely stupid. Even the serpents showed up to the games, and while some of them stated that it was a ridiculous sport (Tall Boy for example) they could always be seen in the stands cheering him on.

FP got to class before Mary and Fred, which led him to believe that they'd made a quick detour to the broom closet. They confused him so much. A voice snapped him out of his musings "Hey FP"

He turned around to see Hermione Reyes sitting behind him "Hey Hermione, how are you doing?"

She smiled "very well, because I have news I know you'll be dying to hear."

"Oh? And what's that?"

"Alice and Hal broke up last night."

FP's heart nearly pounded out of his chest but he had to keep his cool "And why would petty high school gossip interest me?"

She rolled her eyes "Come on FP, we both know that you're not over her."

"I don't know where you get your delusions from Hermione but that shipped sailed long ago. We're good friends."

"Then how come she didn't tell you about the break up?"

"She doesn't need to inform me on every small detail in her life"

"I wouldn't call this small, FP"

"Call it what you want Hermione but I-"

The sight of a red-eyed Alice Smith made him lose track of what he was saying. She looked extremely tired, the bags under her eyes spoke a thousand words. She took her seat in front of FP and wordlessly took out her notes from her bag. A clear sign that she didn't want to talk to anyone. FP didn't know if he should say something or not. In the end he opted for not. Mary and Fred entered looking dishevelled and completely in love. Idiots. FP started to say something to Fred but walked in with murder in her eyes. The torture of English Lit had begun.

Jimmy Morrison's back to school party was one for the ages. It was a complete blowout, every single senior at Riverdale High was there, and every single one was drunk too. FP had only one beer though because he was acting as Fred's babysitter for the night, not an easy task for someone under the influence. Or someone sober. Fred and Mary had just broken up the day before and it was a long time coming. Fred had been fine at first but then when he saw Mary flirting with some football player at the start of the night he had decided to get smashed.

FP had lost Fred early on and had been trying to find him since. A lot of people had come up to him on his journey asking for details about the breakup, which he ignored completely. When he eventually found Fred he wished that he hadn't bothered to go looking: he was trying to eat Hermione's face off. It was an image that would make him gag for days to come, if there's one thing he hated more than gossip it was pda.

Having been relieved off his babysitter duties he went to join in on a game of beer pong with his fellow Bulldogs. But before he reached the table he heard an all too familiar voice screaming abuse.

"YOU LEFT ME FOR THAT TROLLOPE?!" Alice screamed at the top of her lungs. She was clearly out of it, judging by the way she was swaying back and forth.

Hal was out of it too, judging by his big red face "I NEEDED A BREAK FROM YOUR CRAZY ALICE!"

Alice went right up to his face. The whole party stopped to watch the show. "WELL YOU KNOW WHAT HAL? I NEEDED A BREAK TOO, FROM YOUR TINY PENIS!" Followed by a crowd of cheers, Alice stormed out of the house, leaving Penelope Bishop to heal Hal's bruised ego. The party was back in full swing a few moments later. FP knew that Alice would walk home, she was the most determined person he'd ever met. It was too dangerous for her, especially in her current state.

FP sprinted outside. It took him a moment to see her in the dark, but his eyes adjusted and he saw her edging precariously onto the road. Alice scoffed when she saw him walking beside her.

"Go back to the party Forsythe, I can walk by myself." As soon as the words left her mouth she stumbled and almost fell, FP caught her arm.

"Clearly."

"You're not funny you know, I can think of a lot funnier than you."

"Oh really like who?"

She considered this question for a moment before saying "I forget but I'm sure it will come to me."

"Hmmm."

"You know what is funny though?"

"What's funny, Alice?"

"Your name, Forsythe Pendleton."

"I agree with you, for once."

"You should agree with me always, I am the queen."

"The queen of what, the keg?"

"No no no no no stupid, of the castle."

"And the castle is…?"

"The school, dumbass."

"Of course, and so what does that make me? Your subject?"

"I haven't decided yet, I feel like you'd be a good jester,"

"You just said that I wasn't funny."

Alice started giggling and falling over, FP had to half carry her to her family's trailer.

When they reached the front of her trailer FP was almost pleading with her "please, please be quiet, your mother is going to kill you if she finds out you're drunk. And then she'll kill me because I didn't stop you."

Alice didn't listen and continued to laugh like a hyena.

FP grabbed her hands "Alice please shut up."

She cocked her eyebrow at him "Make me, Forsythe."

FP frowned at her "Come on Alice, this isn't a game."

"Okay okay, I'll shhhhh."

She bounded up the steps with unnecessary force.

"Shit!" she exclaimed.

"What is it?!"

She started crying and wailed "I don't have my keys!"

FP thought that he was going to strangle her. He ran up the stairs and placed his hand over her mouth "You aren't allowed to talk anymore. Come on, you can go in through your window."

She continued to sob as he led her around the back of the trailer.

"Okay I'm going to climb in and pull you up, got it?"

She nodded silently, tears still falling. FP climbed up and was relieved to find that her window was a bit open. He pushed it up and landed softly inside. He leaned out the window and offered her his hand.

"I can't do it."

"Yes you can, I've got you."

She shook her head "I'll just sleep out here, at one with nature."

"As much as I'd love to see that I'm going to need you to trust me."

He grabbed her hand and hauled her in. She landed on top of him and for a moment FP wondered if he could control himself. Until she started crying again. He gently pushed her off of him and half carried her onto her bed.

He struggled trying to undo the straps of her heels "Alice you're home now, you're alright."

This information only made her cry harder. He finally managed to win against the heel and flung it across the room. On to the next foot.

"He left me FP, the bastard actually left me. Who does he think he is?"

"Jesus Alice, it's only Hal Cooper. I'm sure there's plenty of guys who'd love to go out with you."

Alice abruptly sobered "you don't get it do you? He was my ticket out of here, away from this life, from the Southside. We were going to go to New York, study journalism, come back here and start a business and then maybe a family. I had this planned, down to the letter and he's just gone and ruined it."

FP threw down the heel with more force than he'd intended "Listen to me, that's a load of bullshit and you know it. You don't need some guy to get out of here. You're Alice fucking Smith in case you'd forgotten. You're your own ticket out of here and believe me-"

She kissed him hard, their mouths literally smashing together. FP didn't know what to do at first, he was in too much shock. He eventually started to kiss her back. He was well aware that she was not in her right mind though and his conscience got the better of him.

He backed away slowly "I-I have to go. I'll see you on Monday." He scampered out of the room and into his own trailer which was only two rows down. He felt downright dirty for taking advantage of her in that state, but he couldn't help but wonder what might have happened if he'd stayed.