Chapter one

I woke with a start and blearily yanked my headphones out of my ears. The car had slowed to a crawl meaning we had finally arrived at the new house. My gaze drifted to my mom. She was sitting in the driver's seat with a slightly nervous smile, clearly she felt the same way as I did.

We headed toward the front door and after jiggling the key in the lock for a good few minutes it creaked open. The wooden stairs groaned under my feet.

My room was the smaller of the two bedrooms, it's walls were painted eggshell blue and there was already a bed, closet and dressing table with a mirror all made of the same dark wood. After wandering around the small house I found mom stocking the cupboards with a few food items we had brought with us.

"I think I'm gonna go stretch my legs," I announced "is there anything you want me to get at the store?"

"That would be really helpful Willa, I'll just write a quick list." Mom said gratefully.

She was stressed about the move to Riverdale and I had promised myself I would help out more. It wasn't the first time we had moved house, it had always been just the two of us and mum struggled to find work. She had been really young when I was born. Her family abandoned her and my dad was out of the picture. The whole sob story made people look at me with such pity that I preferred not to tell people.

With my messenger bag slung over my shoulder I headed up the street, as mom had directed, towards the grocery store. I was pretty good at getting lost so I tried to take in my surroundings so I would be able to make it back. My eyes were drawn to an old fashioned-looking diner. The sign read "Pop's chock'lit shoppe." It's brightly lit windows were inviting, as was the faint smell of burgers and fries wafting through the open door. The silver watch on my wrist showed it was 4:17, I had time to kill.

I ventured inside and took a seat at booth close to the door. After ordering a chocolate milkshake my battered notebook was open on the table right where I had left off. I sketched for a good hour, letting myself get lost in it, before packing my things to head home.


"I thought you had managed to get lost!" Mom exclaimed as she began unpacking the groceries.

"It's great to know you have such faith in me," my tone was joking, "not even I could get lost in a town this small."

"Are you nervous about starting school tomorrow?"

"No. I mean yes, sort of." I sighed. "I'm not looking forward to having to make new friends, what I really want is a year with zero drama."

Taking a deep breath I glanced at my reflection. The outfit I had picked out was a pair of dark jeans paired with black boots and a maroon sweater. It was simple and inoffensive, intended to help me blend in. With my notebook tucked safely in my bag, along with my other schoolbooks, I headed out the door.


Riverdale high was buzzing. I felt out of place and wanted to keep my gaze glued to the linoleum floor of the corridor. However bumping into the hoards of students was something I wanted to avoid. By my locker a bubbly blonde girl greeted me with a smile, her girl next door persona contrasted starkly with the brunette's next to her. She introduced herself as Betty Cooper and the elegant Veronica Lodge was also a new student. I was immensely relieved by this fact.

My hand raised in a shy wave. "I'm Willa, at least that's what everyone usually calls me. It's short for Wilhelmina which is quite possibly the worst name in existence. My mom only uses it when she's mad." I rambled, feeling my cheeks grow warm.

Betty smiled encouragingly, "So I usually start off my tours with a little history and context." she clasped her hands together as we walked down the corridor. "Riverdale high first opened its doors in 1941 and-"

"And hasn't been redecorated since apparently," Veronica interrupted. "Honestly, I feel like I'm wandering through the lost epilogue of Our Town."

A small laugh escaped my mouth, I was already beginning to like these two, Betty seemed super sweet and Veronica's bluntness was refreshing. "How's the school's art department, do you have a photography club?"

"From what I've heard the art program here is pretty great, what are you interested in? Just photography?"

"That and sketching," I answered and added, "Painting is my weakness."

"What's the social scene like here? Any night clubs?"

"A strip club called the Ho Zone and a tragic gay bar called Innuendo. Friday nights, football games and then tailgate parties at the Mallmart parking night is movie night, regardless of what's playing at the Bijou, and you better get there early, because we don't have reserved seating in Riverdale. And Sunday nights Thank God for HBO." This sudden reply to Veronica's question came from a boy who looked to be the same year as us and close friends with Betty as he casually chucked his arm around her shoulders.

"Veronica, Willa meet Kevin Keller. Veronica and Willa are new here" Betty informed the boy, then to us, "Kevin is-"

"Gay, thank god." Veronica cut in, extending her hand daintily. "Let's be best friends."

After grasping my hand Kevin leaned in slightly and asked in a conspiratorial whisper, "Is it true what they say about your dad?"

"That he's the devil incarnate? I stand by my father." Veronica folded her arms. "Does everyone know?" I felt bad for her as I saw Betty's eyes drop to the floor. "Wonderful. Ten minutes in and I'm already the Blue Jasmine of Riverdale High."


"Thank you for that moment of silence." a girl who looked indisputably doll-like was addressing the mass of student gathered in the hall. Her hands rested purposefully on the podium and her voice was clear, demanding attention.

She continued, "I speak with the confidence only a twin could have, Jason wouldn't have wanted us to spend the year mourning. Jason would want us to move on with our lives. Which is why I've asked the school board not to cancel the back-to-school semiformal." People began to cheer. "But rather, to let us use it as a way to heal, collectively, and celebrate my brother's too, too short life on this mortal coil. Thank you all."

My brow furrowed at this. "I guess people grieve in different ways?" I said confusedly to Betty and Veronica.


Thankfully Veronica and I had fourth period together so we didn't have to brave finding a seating at lunch alone. We both surveyed the outdoor cafeteria awkwardly before Veronica took the lead and headed towards a table. Kevin, Betty and a boy named Archie, I had been informed of who he was on the tour.

"Can we join?"

"Yeah." Betty answered Veronica politely.

Archie closed his laptop lid as we took our seats. Kevin shuffled to the end of the seat so both Veronica and I could sit.

"What were you listening to?" I asked.

"One of Archie's songs." Betty gazed at Archie with such adoration, it was impossible not to see that she wanted them to be more than friends.

"I thought we were going to have to pretend to like it, but it's actually really good." Kevin responded surprisedly.

Veronica raised her eyebrows, looking impressed, "Wait, that was you singing? Something you wrote?"

"It's rough." Archie said sheepishly.

"No, it's great!" Betty grinned at him.

"It's incredible, actually, the little snippet I heard. Is that your thing? Music? Are you doing something with that?"

"Yeah, that's the plan." Archie answered Veronica. "So how's your first day going? Good?" His eyes flickered between Veronica and I. Clearly he felt uncomfortable about having attention on his music and wanted to direct the conversation away from the subject.

"Not to be a complete narcissist, but I thought people would be more-"

"Obsessed with you? Any other year, you'd be trending number one, for sure. This year, though, it's all about Cheryl trying to win the Best Supporting Psycho Oscar for her role as Riverdale High's bereaved Red Widow."

As Kevin was speaking I glanced around, following the other's stares , at the red-haired girl who had addressed the school earlier that day. Archie swiftly left the table with the excuse of having to go meet a teacher before football trials.

"I'm Cheryl Blossom, may I sit?" She introduced herself with a plastic smile which showed her sparkling white teeth. "Betty, would you mind? So, what are you four hens gossiping about? Archie's Efron-esque emergence from the chrysalis of puberty?"

Betty widened her eyes at us, begging us to change the discussion.

"Extracurriculars." I answered quickly. "Principal Weatherbee wants us to sign up for a few."

"Cheerleading. You must. I'm senior captain of the River Vixens." Cheryl informed us proudly, like she was the president of the United States.

"I'm in. But you two have to try out as well." Veronica looked pointedly at Betty and I.

I hesitantly nodded my head, hopefully it would help me make some new friends and besides, it would look great on my college applications.

"Of course! Anyone's welcome to try out, but Betty's already got so much on her plate right now," Cheryl turned her nose up at Betty's tray of food, "And being a Vixen is kind of a full-time thing." Leaving us with her twitter handle she flipped her red hair over her shoulder and left.

When she was out of earshot Veronica piped up, "Okay. go ahead and hate on cheerleading, but if Hipster Prince Harry-"

"No, I would love to be a cheerleader. But last year when I tried out, Cheryl said I was too fat." Betty looked dejected.

"Actually it was, 'Too season five Betty Draper.' it was a great line but it was- "

"Completely untrue I bet" I finished for Kevin.

Veronica nodded in agreement, "Well, you're a total smoke show now. I mean it. Look if you want to be a River Vixen, I'll help you prep. I have moves. "

"Okay. You know what? Show me your moves."

"Oh and me too because I have never cheered in my life." I added.


"We're blue! And go! We're dynamite! We'll take you down, and fight the fight! Whoo! Go, Bulldogs!" the three of us chanted in unison, Veronica adding a cheer at the end.

"Hmm." Cheryl did not look impressed. "Ladies, where's the heat? Where's the sizzle?"

"Well, you haven't seen our big finish yet." I turned to Veronica in surprise, what big finish? I wondered. She swivelled around so she was facing Betty and whispered something. My hand covered my mouth to hold in a giggle as Veronica kissed Betty right on the mouth, placing her hands on the sides of her neck.

Cheryl rolled her eyes. "Check your sell-by date, ladies, faux lesbian kissing hasn't been taboo since 1994.

So let's see if you do better with the interview portion of our audition." She looked directly at me, "New girl what's your name?"

"I'm Willa." I answered trying to sound confident.

"You're in." she said dismissively. "Veronica, has Betty told you about her sister yet?"

"Uh, no."

"- Go ahead, Betty. Tell Veronica about your sister and my dear brother."

"Polly and Jason dated." I could see Betty's fists clenching.

"I wouldn't say dated." Cheryl scoffed.

"- It didn't end well."

"- In fact, Jason's probably why your sister had a nervous breakdown and now lives in a group home, isn't it? That's what my parents think. What do you have to say about that, Betty? Go ahead, the floor is yours. Whatever you've been dying to spew about Jason and how he treated Polly, unleash it. Destroy me. Tear me a new one. Rip me to shreds. Annihilate me." She spat. With every word Betty looked closer to having a melt down and I didn't blame her.

She pulled it together. "I just wanted to say I'm sorry about what happened to Jason. I can't even imagine what you and your family must be going through."

"Right. Veronica, welcome to the River Vixens. Betty, better luck next time."

"Wait, what? Why? Because you couldn't bully Betty into being a bitch?" Veronica put her hands on her hips and cocked her head to the side.

"I need girls with fire on my squad."

"I know what you need, Cheryl, because I know who you are. You would rather people fear than like you, so you traffic in terror and intimidation. You're rich, so you've never been held accountable, but I'm living proof. That certainty, that entitlement you wear on your head like a crown? It won't last. Eventually, there will be a reckoning. Or Maybe that reckoning is now." part of me wanted to applaud Veronica, it took guts to stand up to Cheryl, who was clearly top bitch of the school. The other part was worried for her safety as Cheryl glared daggers at the three of us.

"And maybe, that reckoning Is me. Betty, Willa and I come as a matching set. You want one, you take us all. You wanted fire? Sorry, my specialty's ice."