Chapter 1 - Fallen
As the stars of night disappeared in the sky. Fp remembers how good it felt to have her in his arms again. The sun light casted its way through his shutters. He turned his head, hoping she hadn't left after he fall asleep. She wasn't there, he laid flat on his back, frowning up at his celling. His mind was clouded by the images of her showing up at his door, wearing that low-cut snake-printed blouse. He felt stupid thinking she would actually stay. He was in his forties and he was still undeniably in love with Alice as he was when he first laid eyes on her.
He heard his son walk through the doors. He stared up at the clock, he was confused why his son was coming home at 6 in the morning.
"Jug, why are you getting home now?" He yawned, rubbing his eyes. His son just shrugged his shoulders, pouring his cereal into the bowl.
"Oh I fall asleep on Mrs C's couch. She actually walked in very late." Jughead replied briefly, taking a seat at the table. Fp's eyes shift nervously at the statement. Shit, he mentally cursed. Did he notice the strange fragrance of her perfume still lingering behind?
"Oh really?" He tried to be nonchalant. Jughead nods his head. He looks up at the clock and quickly scruffs down the rest of his cereal.
"I should get going. Yesterday, Kevin asked me to be the videographer for his play, Carrie he is directed and I told him yes." He says as he picks up his backpack. Fp was a little surprised, but his son always had a love for old films and photography.
"Oh how's it going? I mean it's Carrie." He asks hoping he can dodge the suspicions in his son's eyes. Jughead looked at him, something caught his eyes.
"It's good. Archie and Betty are playing boyfriend and girlfriend." He answered with a hint of disgust. That got FP's eyes right away. He heard about the Black hood kiss. He was surprised how well his son took that kiss.
"You don't sound happy about it. Is Red giving you trouble. Because if is—" he was interrupted by his son's hold on him.
"No, you won't do a thing. It's not your issue. Not after you cleaned up another murder for a psycho." Jughead warned, catching his attention. He knew that Jug was right. He wished his son would stop bring up his mistakes all the time. He made them. He was human. Humans make mistakes.
"Fine, I won't. You should really get to school then." He says as he took a bite of his bagel. Jughead nodded his head.
"Yeah, Kevin really likes to start on time. Bye Dad. See you after your shift tonight." He says as the door shut behind him.
Alice walked in the house at 4 in the morning. She never felt so refreshed as she felt that the moment. She walks into her living room, eyes wide as she spots a sleeping raven-haired boy on her couch. She was just happy that he was asleep and was unaware what just happened. She felt guilty for leaving in the middle of the night. She couldn't risk Betty or worse Jughead catching her.
She arrived at rehearsals just as Betty asks who's playing Carrie's mom. She said her and felt her daughter's eyes grow wide. She sat down in the chairs and Betty starts rehearsing her scenes. Betty was a star up there. She wondered why hadn't her daughter do more acting then sticking her nose in places it didn't belong.
Fp was working his shift at Pop's. He was still thinking of the woman that haven't left his mind since their night, Stars lighting up the sky as they made love or what he liked to think of it as. He didn't know what she thought of it. Just then she walked I the doors, he felt his chest flutter. His mind was telling him to play it cool, but his body was having a full out freak out.
"What's happening, Handsome?" Alice asks, while walking up to him. He continues cleaning up the table and turns to her.
"Bussing tables, Alice. You?" He says, still feeling angry that she just left during the night. She follows him to the counter.
"Just finished rehearsal and then the high school musical. Can you believe it?" She asked trying to get him to look at her. He just continues to ignore her. "Maybe you'll come by check it out?" She ask hoping he will say yes. He stops in front of her and opens his mouth.
"Mark knows. Sorry" He states before walking away. Alice opens her mouth in disbelief. He just turned her down. Wow. She was very shocked.
"Wow... really this whole act again?" She says, still burning on the inside from his rejection. "You know what's funny. I was afraid our kids were gonna make the same mistakes we did, it turns out we're the ones making them all over again." She stated before walking out of Pop's. He watches her walk through the doors, wanting to chase after, telling her he will come.
After she leaves Pop's, She sat in her car, crying. She was ready to let her guard down, let him in. And He just turns her down. She felt like a damn fool for thinking he would actually accept her invitation to the play. She starts her car up, driving the hell away from the place her heart shattered. As she makes her drive home, tears cascaded down her cheeks and soaking her shirt.
On opening night, they were backstage getting ready for the play to start. Alice was poking her head behind the currents, speaking to Hal. Fp felt his face curl up. He knew it was too good to be true. She always was going to go back to Hal. He's a cooper and he was nothing but a trailer park trash. Who loves hers more than the air he breathes. She looks up to see Fp. He was turning away and started walking out of the auditorium. She quickly cuts her exhausting conversation with Hal short and disappears behind the curtains. She looks for thec losest emergency exit, practically running down the hall. When she spots him, she runs in front of him. He tries to dodge her and walk past. But she holds him back with her hand.
"Alice move!" He groans, brushing his hand over his face, in pure irritation. She wasn't moving. She had to explain what he saw.
"No, just listen to me. What you saw. It wasn't anything. Hal was being nice and brought me and Betty some chocolates. That's all it was, Fp." She explained, eyes boring straight into his. He wasn't sure what to believe.
"Why should I believe you or that? You and Hal always liked to throw your love and affection in my face!" He retorted, biting his tongue. Alice was in the verge of tears. She hated when he got like this.
"Please come and watch. You drove all the way out here. It would be a waste of gas to go now. Please, just stay to watch. We can talk when it's done. Sound like a plan?" She pleaded, making puppy dog eyes. He bit back his words and sighed.
"Fine, I will stay. It would be a waste of gas." He sighed turning away, walking toward the auditorium.
She smiled, headed back to the backstage and to her dressing room. Fp had reached the auditorium and took a seat next to his son. Jughead looked over at his dad in surprise. What was he doing here? Cheryl noticed the tall Serpent too and tapped Kevin's shoulder. He looked over at what Cheryl pointing too. His mouth sharper the vowel O. He turns back to Cheryl and mouths "oh well this is riveting." Cheryl nodded her head in agreement. She was still pissed how her mother wasn't allowing her to play Carrie. The play started, lights flashed on screen. Alice was during her scene. Her singing was beautiful.
"Okay , Carrie eddta, it's time to come out of your closet." Alice's says on stage. Fp, Jughead, Kevin and Cheryl stared in confusion as the stage wall was lifted. Everyone in the crowd gasps in shock. Cheryl instantly asks Kevin.
"Uh Kevin, Didn't you reblock this scene? Why isn't she already singing?" She asks in utter confusion. Jughead holds the camera in his shaky hands. FP's hearts beating out of his chest. Midge Klump was nailed to the wall. There was a message scattered across and next to where Midge nailed. "I AM BACK FROM THE DEAD, All THOSE ESCAPED ME BEFORE WILL DIE - B.H" was written in what looked like blood. Jughead was still filming as the scene unfolded.
"I don't think this is part of the show." He said in a low, trying not to panic voice.
"Oh my god." Kevin gasps out, watching in horror. Cheryl watched in realization.
"Someone should help her." She says and then raised her voice to get everyone's attention. " We are not on stage someone help her!" She yelled as loud as she could. Alice turns around and starts screaming in bloody terror. Fp wants desperately to get her off the stage. She's stepping back and farther back, still screaming.
"Betty" Jughead mutters as he runs toward the stage.
His camera is shaking as he races up to the stage. Fp watches as his son runs over to Betty, who's visibly shaken. Betty was scared, she couldn't believe she had been wrong. Fp runs up the stage, pulling Alice away from the horrifying scene. He feels sick to his stomach as he glances at the the stage wall.