This comes from a very personal place.


Cheryl checked her phone again. 4:05. Why was she so worried? He said he would be there, and she trusted that.

4:10.

A car screeched around the corner and pulled up alongside her. Jack stepped out, still sweaty from his practice. With Veronica, Cheryl remembered.

"There you are, Jackie. Guess handsome and punctual is too much to ask for…" Her tone was sharper than she'd allowed herself to be around him before, but her fears were coming back, and so was the old Cheryl.

"Cheryl, I am so sorry. I lost track of time. But I'm here, and I promise that I care what you have to show me."

He looked at her so desperately that it made her heart skip a beat, and Cheryl couldn't help but melt a little. "It's okay. Come with me."

"I actually need to talk to you, too."

"Later. If I put this off any longer, I might back down."

She held out her hand, and he took it anxiously. They walked down to the edge of the river, which was slow and cold but not quite frozen.

"Jack West, this is where my brother died." She took a deep breath not sure where to head from here. "Well, it's where he disappeared. I guess he technically died in a basement…" The words were pouring out, and she couldn't stop herself. "This is where I tried to kill myself a few weeks ago." Her voice was softer now and caught in between words. "My dad turned out to be a murderer, my brother wasn't who I thought he was, and my mother is exactly who I thought she was… It was just too much… We're not good people, Jack. My family controls Riverdale through secrets and lies and drugs and murder! We're not worth your dad's time. I'm not worth your time."

The weight of it all flooded back to her. She sunk to the ground, her legs clutched to her chest. After a moment, Jack sat down next to her. He pulled off his coat and wrapped it around Cheryl's shoulders. He put his arms around her and sighed.

"I don't deserve you."

Cheryl made a sound somewhere between a laugh and a yelp. "I think you've got things mixed up, Jackie."

He shook his head emphatically. "No, Cheryl. And I hate that I have to tell you this…"

Cheryl pulled away and stared directly into his eyes. Her heart fell into her stomach, and she could feel it churning. "Tell me what?"

"Today, Veronica and I… fooled around."

No, no, no. This wasn't happening! "Did you fuck Veronica Lodge?"

"No! We just kissed… passionately."

Without thinking, she struck him across the face. "You son-of-a-bitch!"

"Cheryl, please. It didn't mean anything."

She did all she could to hold back. If she let herself feel anything more, she would cry herself sick or kill him. "Is that supposed to make it better?"

"It means I don't have feelings for her. Not like that."

Cheryl could feel herself shutting down. The tears were drying, and the hurt on her face was growing cold with disgust. "You're just like everyone else, Jack. Maybe you do belong in Riverdale."

She started to stomp away, throwing his coat down on the ground behind her. She could hear him stumbling after her.

"Do you know what Veronica asked me?"

Cheryl didn't even turn back to answer. "How big is it?"

"She asked what you have that she doesn't."

The ground was flattening out beneath her feet, and she could her car just ahead. "Looks? Class? An ability to stay loyal to one guy?"

"Vulnerability."

Cheryl was caught off guard. Jack was there, his feet ready to bring him to her if she asked it of him.

"You're vulnerable, Cheryl," he continued. "In a way she isn't. You've been through hell and back, but you're still here, and you chose to share that with me. You didn't hide it from me. And to me that says you're a fighter, and you're not like your family. And if you're willing to give that sort of trust to me, that's someone I can see a future with."

Cheryl's mind was reeling. For every thought that wanted to shove him down the hill, there was a thought that wanted to kiss him. She was at odds with her own brain, and the two sides refused to reconcile amongst themselves.

"How do I believe you?"

"I'll do whatever you ask of me. I won't see her anymore. I'll sing a song or buy you a hat or starve myself for a week. Cheryl, I want to be with you."

She stood taller now and turned her nose up at him. "Come closer," Riverdale's ice queen demanded. Jack did so immediately, awaiting further direction.

"You'll cut down practices with Veronica to twice a week. You'll carry my books every day until we graduate, and you owe me a gourmet picnic the minute spring starts. Understood?"

He smiled brightly at her, and for a moment no words came. "Absolutely. I can do that."

She felt the weight lifting off her piece by piece, and a smile returned to her face. "You may kiss me, Jack West."

Without hesitation, he placed his hand on the back of her neck and pulled her to his lips. His other hand slid around her waist, and they basked in the taste and feel of each other. She kissed him back with all the energy she could muster, and when they finally parted lips, she felt secure in his arms.

"You know, Jackie, I did say I had a surprise for you today if you were still interested in me."

"The surprise is still on the table?"

Cheryl slid what was unmistakably a hotel card key from her purse. "It's already paid for."

"And what should we do there?" He asked in mock confusion.

Cheryl leaned closer and whispered in his ear. "Something that will make Veronica Lodge extremely jealous."