Things get lost over time, like Riverdale's normalcy after the murder of Jason Blossom. Or someone who left, who was only remembered in the minds of the parents of Riverdale, whose only trace of existence was old yearbooks and pictures in the back of forgotten photo albums. Memories became stories, with truths twisted and told before children were tucked into bed. Even the stories would be vaguely remembered yet still told by one generation to the next, again and again until it no longer resembled the truth. At least, such would be the case if the inspiration for the original stories didn't walk right back into Riverdale.
The young girl with the red and black hair had grown up, in a way nobody had expected. The bright colour in her hair was gone, as were the piercings that littered her face. Dark, baggy clothes were replaced with a form fitting outfit, showcasing the figure she hid as much as she could during her teenage years. The only visible remains of her Riverdale past were her old southside serpent jacket and tattoo, kept to remind her of home while she was on the road.
She had no reason to come home until then, after she found out about the strange goings-on in Riverdale recently. It started with a simple trip to Chicago, where she ran into Molly and the redhead spilled everything that went wrong over the last year. Clifford Blossom murdering his own son, Hal Cooper becoming the serial killer: "The Black Hood", then her son being sent to prison for a crime he didn't commit. What was happening to Riverdale? It was no longer the town you left, your home.
"Excuse me," A young girl said, dressed in the yellow waitress uniform. A uniform she once wore when she worked at Pop's in summer.
"I don't want to order anything else, I'm all set." She said, nodding to her vanilla milkshake.
"Actually, I was going to say I recognise you from somewhere. And I know, for one, that you're not from here." The girl stated, studying her face closely for anything that would make her realise. "I'm Veronica, welcome to Riverdale."
"That would be a 'welcome back'." She said, shaking Veronica's outstretched hand. "I'm actually from Riverdale, I just got back in town. Shae Lucas, by the way."
A thoughtful look crossed Veronica's face, before her eyes widened and she sat on the opposite side of the booth. "Did you go to school with Hermione Lodge?"
"So, she ended up marrying Hiram." Shae said, sipping from her milkshake which tasted better than she remembered. "Yeah, I knew Hermione and Hiram. Your mom-"
"I didn't tell you they were my parents yet."
Shae gave her a sly smile. "You look at lot like your mom when she was a teenager. That was when she and I were really close, back when she was dating Fred."
Veronica's eyes lit up, glad to hear more information about this stranger her parents spoke so highly of. "You knew Mr Andrews?"
"Look, I'm not gonna try hiding things like that." She said, noticing the gleam in the ponytailed girl. "It's a small town, people talk. I knew Fred, Alice, Sierra, Tom, FP, even Penelope and Clifford."
"Clifford Blossom's dead, Ms Lucas." Veronica told her, without much care after what he did when he was alive.
"Good riddance, after he murdered his son." Shae scoffed, even colder than Veronica. "Molly, Fred's ex-wife, told me everything. It's why I came back. I might not have seen Fred in years, but we grew up together and I'll be damned if I'm not there for him while his son's in jail."
This elicited a sad smile from Veronica. "Good, we could use all the help we can get to get Archie back out. You should go see everyone, tell them you're back." With a quick glance over Shae's shoulder when the bell above the door sounded, Veronica stood back up. "Or, maybe you won't have to. Mr Keller!"
A man turned around to look in their direction, grey hair and a face full of wrinkles, but he was still the Tom she remembered. Shae was unable to duck down once she glanced over, because his gaze had met hers and he would realise if she was hiding and avoiding him.
"I believe you have someone to talk to." Veronica said, walking back behind the counter and leaving old friends to catch up.
Shae hesitantly stood up, too many thoughts racing through her mind as she realised she didn't think this far ahead. What would she say to him? How would he react? Did he want her back? Would he care? These questions were all expelled from her mind when she reached a close enough distance where he could pull her in for a bone-crushingly tight hug.
"What are you doing here?" He asked softly, not yet letting her go.
"I heard about everything, including Archie. I couldn't stay away, especially not after thinking what Fred must be going through." She told him, head resting on his shoulder and, just for a moment, they were teenagers again: embracing like they did in school hallways, when one of them was having a bad day and needed comfort. "I missed you, Tommy. You were meant to call."
"So were you. But that doesn't matter now." He said, stepping back a bit to look her in the eye. "You're back now, that's all that matters. You look amazing."
"And you got old." She teased, with a smirk plastered onto her face.
"We're the same age, dumbass." He replied with a roll of his eyes.
"Well, it doesn't look like it."
They both took seats at the bar, where Veronica was wiping down the counter in eavesdropping proximity. Except, there was no need. Both adults told her stories of the stupid things they did as teens, including some of the other Riverdale parents like Alice, Hermione and FP.
"Speaking of FP, he should be here soon." Tom looked at Shae, who shifted uncomfortably and suddenly found the countertop very interesting.
"Wait, was there some history with FP?" Veronica looked at Tom for conformation.
"We dated in high school, then we broke up and stayed friends." Shae said in a very thought out manor, making Tom receive a slap upside his head for his eyeroll.
"That's what everyone says, what about the real gossip?" The young girl asked, leaning closer in interest.
"There's no gossip." Shae assured her.
"If he the reason you became a serpent?" She asked, having obviously taken note of the jacket and exposed tattoo on her collarbone.
"No, actually I was the reason he became a serpent." The woman said, hesitant to admit whatever deeper connection she had with FP in the past. "He came with me to the Whyte Wyrm, saw this big community that was like a family and he liked it. So much that he became a serpent, which his dad hated and blamed me for."
"I remember that. The day after he got kicked out, he came to school still drunk from the night before." Tom said in a more serious tone than all the other stories they recounted.
"He always drank when he was too overwhelmed and doesn't know what else to do." Shae said, remembering nights when she had to physically restrain him from grabbing another drink.
One memory spilled into another, then another, then another. Happy memories of her time with FP when he was still her boyfriend, but she also had fun with him when they weren't together. Right? Come to think of it, she couldn't remember a time spent in Riverdale when she and FP weren't a couple. It's as though they broke up then she left, which she knows isn't what really happened. They were friends for a while before she left, months even. But she couldn't pick out a single memory of that time.
"Shae?"
She hadn't heard the bell above the door, or the footsteps approaching behind her. But she damn well heard his voice, he couldn't ignore it if she tried. Sure enough, FP was stood behind her when she turned around and met his tired eyes. He looked significantly older, with a beard covering his lower face to match his matured look. Shae all but fell into his arms, letting him hold her smaller frame close to his. He wasn't significantly bigger than her, but he always managed to envelop her completely when he hugged her.
"I missed you, so much." She mumbled into his shoulder, just loud enough for him to hear.
"I'm right here, and I don't plan on letting you go anytime soon." He said, equally as quiet.
To Veronica, it looked like a reunion of two lovers. To Tom, it didn't fill him with any hope that they would get back together. They'd always been close, even before they were anything more than friends. Of course she'd get very emotional when she saw him again, ex-boyfriend or not.
