Wonderful. Absolutely wonderful.
Elena Lodge let out a groan of annoyance as she slammed the button on her alarm clock down, burying her face into her pillow. Today was the first day of school, and gone were the days of unrestricted freedom that summer offered her. Reluctantly she pulled herself free from the warm embrace of her bed covers, stretching her arms as she reluctantly crawled out of bed. Her eyes fell on her newly pressed Pop's uniform hung up on her wardrobe, which was seemingly fresh from the dry cleaners.
A fond smile graced Elena's lips. Cheryl. Always thinking of me.
Poor Cher. She'd been dreading the first day back more than her, especially in light of what had happened with Jason and the whole running away thing. As Elena rubbed the sleep from her eyes, she grabbed her phone from her bedside table to message the girl in question.
Am I still driving you to school? -E
She didn't have to wait long, her phone buzzing not long after.
Definitely. I need some time away from my parents. -C
Eurgh. Elena could feel the steam beginning to rise from each side of her head at the mention of Cheryl's parents. Penelope and Clifford could be emotionally and at times physically abusive with their daughter, and in the two years she'd known her Elena had never been able to convince her to report it. They probably wouldn't do anything. Elena thought cynically. Sheriff Keller is an incompetent hack.
Of course, thoughts of Cheryl's parents led to her own.
It had been two years, three months and two days since the day in which she had gotten herself emancipated.
She'd never had the best relationship with her parents, varying in two different ways. Her Mom was the all too distant figure who'd only become more indistinct over the years, preferring to host charity galas and luncheons then spending any time with her and Veronica. And her relationship with her Dad? Positively volatile. Admittedly she'd been quite the brat when she was younger, picking fights and stirring up trouble at private school in order to get attention. Any attention what so ever. With every school she got kicked out of, there was an explosive fight with her father.
"¿Por qué estás actuando así?"
"Mija what's wrong with you? Are you ungrateful or what?"
They hadn't understood, neither of them had. She suspected even if she had sat them down and explained what had been going on, they still wouldn't have truly comprehended it. It didn't matter now. None of it did. She hadn't seen hide or hair of either of them since she'd moved to the small town of Riverdale to get out from under the shadow of her parents, and she had never regretted it. She missed Veronica though, she'd never stopped missing her. She wished she could make that right.
"What do you mean you're going?" Veronica stared up at her sister, wide-eyed as tears began to pool in her eyes. Elena turned away guiltily, folding a pair of jeans and placing them into a suitcase.
"I'm moving away Ronnie, I can't stay here anymore." Veronica clung to Elena with all her might, as though her sheer force of will and desperation would keep her there.
"Why can't you work whatever it is out? Daddy's been gone for hours, and Mom's in her room crying." Veronica pleaded, as tears began to form in Elena's eyes. They wouldn't understand something like this. If word got out that one of Hiram Lodge's daughters might be- Oh god she couldn't even say it. She couldn't even think it without igniting an array of confusing feelings.
"It's done Veronica, tell Mom I said goodbye."
Elena shook herself out of the memory, heading over to her bathroom to prepare for school.
Are you ready? -E
Elena sent off a quick text to Cheryl once she'd parked her car outside the Thornhill gates, and looked up to find the Gothic style Mansion glaring back at her. Elena found herself shivering at the unwelcoming sight. Though she moaned and groaned about her small apartment all the time, it was her crappy yet loveable home. But Thornhill? Elena pulled a face. She was certainly glad not to call it home, especially as two of the occupants it hosted were just as unfriendly as the house.
Without realising, Elena blinked in shock as Cheryl appeared at the side of the passenger door. The red-head opened the door wordlessly, slamming the door shut as she panted breathlessly. It seemed someone had been in a hurry to get out of the house. Elena hesitated for a moment before bringing a hand to Cheryl's shoulder, giving her a comforting squeeze which she accepted gratefully. "How's it been going?"
"Terrible." Cheryl sighed. "Mommy won't even look at me."
Her parents were abusive pieces of shit. That was what Elena constantly reiterated to her girlfriend, so that she would never forget that it wasn't her fault for whatever they had decided to blame her with. Since they were under the impression Jason was dead, their cruelty had seemingly been upped a notch. "He shouldn't have run off-," Elena exclaimed frustratedly, "-how could he leave you with them?"
"Ellie I can handle them." Cheryl assured her, matching her hard gaze head on.
"And school?" She pressed.
"School?" Cheryl scoffed. "When have I ever gave a shit what they think? There's only one person's opinion I care about." Cheryl inched closer, taking Elena's hand in hers as a form of comfort. "You'll have my back today? Right?" She checked.
Elena was happy to sooth her doubts. "You know I will." She smiled, as Cheryl brought the taller girl's face down to kiss her. The girls's kiss lasted for only a brief moment, a lack of time and the baring presence of Thornhill baring on the back of their minds. Elena planted one last kiss on Cheryl's lips, grinning in triumph at Cheryl's smudged lipstick.
"Might wanna fix that." She smirked, gesturing to Cheryl's ruined lips. Cheryl pulled out her compact mirror and groaned at the sight, pulling out her lipstick to correct the mess.
"You're going to cost me a fortune in lipstick Ellie."
"That's the plan Cher." She smiled, sending a wink her way as she began to start the car's engine.
"Thank you for that moment of silence. Many of you were lucky enough to have known my brother personally. Each and every one of you meant the world to Jason. I loved my brother, he is and always will be my soulmate. So I speak with the confidence only a twin could have, Jason wouldn't want us to spend the year mourning. He 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 semi formal."
A wave of cheers erupted throughout the school gym, causing Elena to roll her eyes. Looks like they have their priorities straight. She snorted to herself, as Cheryl re-joined her in the stands. "How did I do?" She whispered, as Principal Weatherbee began listing off some announcements.
"Good." Elena nodded. "I'd have believed you. Excellent acting Blossom."
Cheryl let a small smile spread on her face as to not arouse suspicion, settling her head on Elena's shoulder as they listened to Weatherbee go on with the announcements.
"Humpty, Dumpty." Cheryl greeted, as she and Elena joined their friends at their usual bench outside the school.
"She means hi, it's nice to see you both." Elena apologised to Ginger and Tina, as Cheryl distracted herself with her lunch. "She didn't mean to be rude."
"Yes I did."
"No she didn't." Elena interjected. "Any last minute input for the dance ladies? I've still got a million and one things to do..." Getting a hold of those streamers, blackmailing a few people into helping her decorate, checking with Josie about her set list...
Cheryl squeezed her hand in assurance. "Baby it'll be fine, I have complete faith in you." Cheryl planted a kiss on Elena's cheek, earning the girlfriends a roll of the eyes from Ginger and Tina. "Besides this dance requires some taste, since Betty is involved." Cheryl visibly darkened, stabbing a carrot stick with her fork violently.
"Now who's being dramatic?"
Cheryl shot her a look. Elena rolled her eyes as she slipped out from the bench, kissing Cheryl before she made her way to depart. "Where are you going?"
"I've gotta go track down Grandma!" Elena called from over her shoulder. "You just reminded me!"
Grandma of course being Betty. The girl was cute and everything, but it looked like her Mom picked out her clothes and they were nothing short of Grandma-chique. Much to Betty's chagrin and Elena's delight, the nickname had stuck. Soon enough she spotted a familiar blonde ponytail with her back to her, giving Elena the urge to sneak up on her.
"Hey Grams!"
Betty jumped in shock, placing a heart on her chest like something out of the forties. She glared in realisation as she spun around, eyes landing on the giggling form of Elena. "Seriously Lee? You could give someone a heart attack!"
"True." She acknowledged with a wave of her finger. "People at your age are at risk to a number of health ailments."
"Haha." She snarled, folding her arms in annoyance. A curious look overcame Betty's face, as she realised something. "What?" Betty began to frown as she thought it over, glancing between Elena and the rest room the two girls were stood outside of.
"You wouldn't happen to be related to the new girl would you?"
"Huh?" Elena stared in confusion, as her heart began to beat wildly. "What new girl?"
Betty gestured wildly to the rest room. "The new girl? Veronica-"
Elena froze as the girl in question strolled out from the girl's bathroom, her eyes immediately landing on Elena. "Ronnie?" She stared in amazement, as she processed the sight of her little sister in the flesh after two years apart.
"Elena!"
Veronica broke into a run to cross the short distance between them, enveloping Elena into a hug. Betty blinked in shock at the sight, as Elena struggled to form any words. Veronica? Elena found herself wrapping her arms around Veronica, as she realised that the younger girl was crying. Elena dabbed at her cheek to find it wet.
She was crying too.
"Oh my god I can't believe you're here!" Veronica cried, as she continued to clutch on to Elena as though she might slip away. A rush of emotion overcame Elena, as she processed what had just occurred. Veronica was here, in Riverdale. But why? Elena disentangled herself from Veronica, squeezing her in assurance as the girl wiped at her eyes.
"Ron what are you doing here?" Elena wondered.
"Me? What about you?" Veronica demanded.
"I live here."
"You're kidding."
"No." A laugh escaped Elena. "New York rent was sky high, so I came down here." Veronica shook her head in disbelief, as she hugged her sister once more. Elena closed her eyes and smiled, forgetting everything else for that moment in time. "So how come you're here?"
"You don't know?" Veronica stared.
"Know what?"
"Dad's in prison."
Elena gaped in surprise. "Seriously? Fuck I've been living under a rock..." She cursed. Dad was in jail? Oh god did that mean- If the authorities had frozen their accounts and they were desperate enough to move...
"Mom's here too isn't she?" Veronica nodded in confirmation. "We got here two days ago, we had no idea you were here! She's gonna freak!"
Yeah. I bet she will.
Elena glanced up at the clock, groaning as she realised the time. "Listen," she urged, clutching Veronica's hands, "I've got to head up the cheerleading auditions, but as soon as I'm done-"
Veronica perked up at her words. "That's where we're going. Right Betty?" She nodded her head to the forgotten blonde in question. Elena swallowed, realising she was about to face the prospect of Veronica meeting her girlfriend. Her temperamental girlfriend, who was currently holding a grudge against the girl Veronica had seemingly befriended.
"I'll see you then?"
"Yeah." Elena nodded nervously. "Definitely."