When I was thirteen, I was forced to leave Riverdale with my mom when she and my dad split up. Together, we moved to Chicago much to my dismay, making me leave my twin brother and my close friends behind.
It was only now, at fifteen am I coming back to Riverdale. Many things have changed, myself included, but I sure as hell was happy to be back to the town that I love so much.
I only had five friends in Riverdale, and four of them continued to talk to while I was away.
Betty Cooper, she was my best girl friend. She was the one I always went to when I needed to talk about something mildly serious. She was my favorite bubbly person. She was always there to cheer me up when I was feeling down.
Jughead Jones, my true best friend. I met Jughead when I was five and we've been best friends ever since. I could talk to Jughead about almost anything. I knew his real name and I also knew about his living situation and his dad, and he was still my best friend. Jughead and I tried to talk everyday or at least every few days.
Then there was Kevin. Kevin Keller was the typical gay best friend. I loved talking to Kevin when I needed advice on clothes, boys, or life. Twice Kevin has surprised my mom and I by visiting us in Chicago. And one of those trips, Jughead came along.
There was also Polly Cooper, Betty's older sister. Polly and I were close, but after I left, she didn't talk to me very much. Last year, she stopped talking to me completely.
Archie Andrews is my twin brother. Archie and Jughead were the two I missed the most. I love my brother and I haven't seen him in forever. I talk to Archie constantly, but he has been unable to come visit me and I vise versa.
Today I was finally coming home to Riverdale. It was July 1st and my dad had just driven up to Chicago to get me.
I was waiting with my mom on the porch for my dad to arrive at our house.
"Julia, you need to promise you'll call every week and that you'll stay out of trouble. You're dad can't afford to leave work to take you home if you get detention or suspension. I know you're strong, Sweetheart, but you can't go around fighting people. It's not worth all the trouble," my mom pleaded with me.
"But I always have a good cause! I'm not a bully. I'm the victim and I'm going to fight back," I told my mom, staring at the awakening sky.
Being in Chicago gave me thicker skin, and a more confident personality. But I was still shy as fuck and only talked to my close friends.
Just as my mom went to argue with me more, my dad's car pulled into the driveway of our house.
"Dad!" I yelled happily as I raced down the porch steps to my dad's car.
My dad quickly pulled me into a hug and I quickly returned it.
"I'm so happy to see you again, Jules! I've missed you so much, everyone has," Dad whispered as we hugged.
"Fred," my mom spoke from the porch, causing dad and I to split from our hug.
"Mary. You seem to be doing well," Dad commented, looking at the house, to me, and then to mom.
"I like to think I did something right," mom spoke, looking at me with a look of pride.
"Tell Archie that I say hi and that I love him. Don't forget to call me and stay out of trouble. I love you," my mom spoke as we hugged.
"I know mom. I love you too. I'll talk to you when I get to Riverdale. Bye mom," I said before grabbing my suitcase and getting into dad's truck.
Dad and I sat in silence for thirty minutes before we finally started talking.
"What is Chicago like?" he finally asked and I smiled.
"It's boring without you, Archie, Jughead, Kevin, Betty, and Polly," I smiled sadly and Dad gave me a look.
"You don't know do you?" he asked hesitantly.
"Know what?"
"Polly was sent to a teen home. She… She was having issues with Jason so her parents sent her to a home," dad spoke quietly and I stared at him in shock.
"Poor Polly," I whispered sadly.
After a moment of hesitation, I spoke again.
"Does anyone know I'm coming home today?" I asked and dad shook his head.
"Only Archie knows. Archie swore he wouldn't tell Jughead if that's what you're getting at," dad said with a smile and I blushed.
"I'm so excited to be home! I haven't seen Archie in two years and I'm so happy to see my twin. Same goes with Betty. I wouldn't have seen Jughead if it weren't for Kevin and I'm just so happy to see them all again," I rambled on, almost missing the smile on my dad's face.
"I think the whole town is happy to have you back," dad said and I raised my eyebrow.
"They don't know how much I've changed do they?" I asked and he shook his head.
"I promise I will try my best to not get into trouble. As I told mom, I only got into fights because someone had to put the bullies in their place," I said, pulling my sunglasses out of my pocket and putting them on.
"Just… Jughead gets picked on quite a bit. Don't do anything rash, Jules. Please, if you get in enough trouble, your mom is going to make you go back to Chicago," Dad pleaded and I nodded.
"I promise. But dad, why did I have to go Chicago? Why not Archie? Why not let me live with you? Life in Chicago was hell without everyone," I whispered as we drove through the morning light.
"I didn't have enough money to care for both of you. But my company's been doing better, so I can afford to have my lovely twins living with me again," dad told me and I nodded.
After that, neither of us talked and we let the radio fill the silence. Dad continued to drive and soon enough I fell asleep.
I woke up twenty minutes before we entered Riverdale. I took in the sights I once knew by heart.
"Jughead's been different since you left," dad finally spoke and I looked at him.
"What do you mean he's different?" I asked and he cast me a look.
"He's… more depressed and sarcastic than he used to be. I bet when you get back into his life he'll be back to his old self," dad spoke and I smiled.
Soon enough, we entered Riverdale. Sweet Water River was still as beautiful as ever and the Blossom's still owned a maple syrup company.
Eventually dad pulled up to our house and I got out.
"I'll get my bags later!" I exclaimed as I ran into the house.
"JULIA!" Archie yelled happily as he pulled me into a tight hug.
Archie and I stood in the hug for what felt like hours, remembering the feeling of holding each other.
"When you two are ready, do you want to go to Pop's?" Dad asked from the kitchen having brought my bags in for me moments earlier.
"I would love that," I said with a smile.
We all decided to walk to Pop's wanting to enjoy quality family time. It took fifteen minutes for us to enter Pop's.
"Julia, it's good to have you back," Pop said as soon as he saw me.
"It's good to be back Po-" I went to say when something caught my eye.
Sitting in a booth in the back of the small diner was a boy. The boy was wearing all black and the beautiful crown beanie. The boy was entranced by the laptop sitting in front of him.
"I'll be right back," I spoke to Archie and my dad before walking to the booth holding the particular boy.
I slide into the seat next to the boy, waiting for him to notice me.
The boy in question rolled his eyes.
"You should ask to sit before just doing so," the boy in question spoke still not looking up.
"I'm hurt, Juggie. I thought I was always allowed to sit next to you," I said with a pout, moving to get out of the booth when his hand caught my arm.
"Julia?" Jughead said in disbelief.