Hi everybody,
Quite a short chapter, this time around but I think you may like it
Thank you as always for reading. It means the world to me
Also if you like please leave a review. Let me know what you think
xxL
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The first person to know about Grace's reappearance in town oddly enough, was Cheryl Blossom. She walked up to the redhead looking every bit the New Yorker. Straight hair, caramel long coat, oversized glasses. The only hint of the Riverdale girl in her, was the thigh boots.
She slid into the other side of the booth. Opposite side to Cheryl
"Looked what the cat dragged back in"
"Careful, Kitty Kat" Grace chuckled
"What can I do for you?"
"Just here to give you a little advice. Treat people like they're trash, expect to get treated like crap back. Word of mouth, goes a long way and often to the right people" Grace dropped two folders bursting with papers on to the table "That's where this comes in"
"And what is that pray-tell?"
"That is your purchasing history for the past five years at Barneys, Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman, Kitch, any designer I could think of. That's a good thing about being a stylist and one thing is so very clear. You have been a busy girl"
"Who are you the shopping police?"
"Maybe Cheryl, because I spoke every person I know at every one of these places, I could think of that. At least the places you can get this second rate Lana del Rey, Japanese Lolita, Dominatrix look that you go for. Your business is no longer wanted. Not until I tell them otherwise"
"You can't do that"
"Oh I did. Looks like Riverdale Goodwill for you, my darling. Also I gave copies of all of these to Penelope. She cancelled your credit cards, so your burgers and fries are on me"
Gracie stood up and made the move to leave before Cheryl grabbed her wrist and stopped her
"You're pretty high and mighty for a washed up fashion blogger, who's sleeping with a criminal. I guess we can't escape who were meant to be. Like mother like daughter. Rita the serpent queen, right?"
Gracie smiled and slowly lent across the table
"Funny, coming from the daughter of a drug baron, who shot his only son. At least I don't hide who I am, Cheryl" she whisper venomously "Another little lesson to learn"
Cheryl quickly walked out of the diner and didn't look back.
Veronica smiled at Grace and she smiled back. That's the way women of class wins wars in New York. Grace walked over to the kids
"Well, I'm going to go before she gets her twin set wearing posse together. To take me down"
"I'm pretty sure you could take them" Ronnie chuckled
"Yeah but I have to check out my new house"
"You brought a house?" her nephew questioned
"Yep and it should be about ready" she looked over at Jughead "When your dad gets here. Can you tell him that I'll catch up with him later?"
"Gross, Aunt Grace but yes I can"
"Why gross?" Archie asked them before the whole group turned and looked at him strangely
"You're kidding me" Jughead asked confused "The whole town knows. Where have you been?"
"Poor Archiekins, so sweet. So pure"
"Hey, we're friends. Nothing untoward"
"Would be able to tell me that at the end of the week?"
"Probably not"
"As I said. Gross"
Grace laughed as she walked out the door and promised to see them soon. They watched her get into a cab and drive away.
#
The last thing he expected was for Alice Cooper to swaying into the diner, with that 'know it all' smirk on her lips before making a bee line for him. In their long history together, FP knew what that type of smile meant. Someone was about to be screwed over and FP got the feeling it was going to be him.
"FP Jones"
"Cooper"
"Did you happen it pick up the latest copy of The New York Post?"
"No Alice, I can't say that I did"
"You many find page ten very interesting"
Alice placed the paper on the counter and swayed out like a women victorious. FP kept a dignified composure until she was long gone.
Going to page ten as instructed and saw a two page layout of Grace at a restaurant with Dalton, looking pretty damn cozy. In one shot, Dalton was even kissing her hand. He closed the paper and threw it right in the trash. Before picking it up again
"Pop's I'll be back in ten"
"Alright"
FP went straight out the back and to his truck. She had to be at her brother's place.
No one was there but Archie who told him that she brought the old Summers place. That was FP's next stop, even though he knew he would be late back to work.
He parked quickly. Stalked to the door, paper in hand. No one was here also, not surprisingly. FP got a hammer and a nail out of the bed of his truck and nailed the article to her new front door. Before leaving again
It felt good
#
It was eleven o'clock at night and he had only just gotten home, Jughead was at Freds, or in actual fact, possibly at Betty's. Imagine his surprise when someone knocked on his door. There she was, looking out of place. Standing on his front step.
"Nice front door wreath you gave me as a welcome back to town present"
"I was pissed off"
"Mmm, I could tell"
"I thought you weren't getting back together with him"
"I didn't"
"Grace, come on"
She moved into the trailer and spun around to face him
"There was no reason for it to get messier, then it already had gotten. Our friends were having a dinner, with like ten other people. They didn't know about what happened and even though we broke up. Didn't mean it had to get ugly"
"You're not with him?"
"Of course I'm not. The whole time I was away all I could" she stopped and ate her words "You know what? I don't have to justify myself to you"
She stalked back across the trailer and to the front door. He gently grabbed her, stopping her, planting her right in front of her, looming.
"All you could do, was what?"
"It doesn't matter now"
He hands slowly moved up her body and cradled her face before she closed her eyes
"Look at me" she remained stubborn for a few more seconds before giving in. They stared at each other for a short time "All you could do was what?"
"Think of you. I don't know and I didn't see it coming because you're FP for Christ Sake and"
He kissed her quickly and harder then he intended. Her hands soft on his hips as he drew her closer, slowly
He pulled back slightly, she could still feel his breath on her lips
"You're not with him?"
"No"
FP picked her up by her thighs and carried her through the trailer and to his room. He was going to make sure that there were no more misunderstandings between them. No more questions.
#
She woke up before him, with him wrapped around her. Both safe, warm. She liked it. Grace felt his stubble graze the curve of her neck. She realised just how intimate this was. Waking up like this, with him, was more intimate then some sex she had in her life. Last night, however was another story.
She rolled over on to her back and that was just enough movement to wake him.
"Hey New Yorker"
"Told you I'd be back"
"Never doubted"
"Bullshit" She smelt of expensive perfume, not the drugstore kind. She smirked up at him with a furrowed brow "What?"
"Even a sleepy mess, you're still out of my league"
"Not true"
"Gracie" he chuckled "It's true"
"It's not. You're been living in this town for too long. You starting to see yourself, the way they see you and it's not true, not at all"
"Gang member, criminal, murder, trailer trash?"
She gently grabbed his chin and set her eyes on him, so unwaveringly that she could have said the earth was flat and he would have believed her
"Good guy, great father and survivor"
"You should be in PR"
"It's all true and if I hear you talking like that again. I'm going to be forced to kick your ass"
He had noticed it before. He had been careful with it but hadn't said anything. Not wanting to ruin the moment. There was a brand new soft cast covering her wrist. She heard him playfully hum before gently holding her wrist
"Are you allowed to have this so soon?"
"My doctor said it was okay" FP smirked at her "Fine I begged him, but I am okay and it barely hurts anymore"
He rested her hand gently on his chest before she rolled over on to her stomach. She chuckled as both his hand grabbed her forearms and pulled her up the bed, placing her on top his chest, as her hair surrounded them both.
"How was it? Seeing him"
"Umm" she chuckled awkwardly "He was profusely apologetic. Ashamed, even"
"Good" FP said sharply
"He had even lined someone up to buy the apartment ready"
"That was helpful"
FP sounded bitter and judgemental. She had the feeling that she told have told him that Dalton save a baby or cured some illness and it still wouldn't have mattered. He's mind was made up.
"Thank you" she told him softly
"For what?"
"Having my back"
"Piece of cake, Sweetheart"
"Can I steal some hot water?"
"You can start there, yes"
He watched her slip out from under the covers and wander out of the room. FP was starting to feel too happy. Like he was waiting for the shoe to drop. Something to shatter.
#
Later that night he watched her inside the town diner with the guy. The biker guy. He must have been a criminal. Dalton could tell just by the look of him. Something about the way that he made her laugh, really made Dalton's blood boil.
He knew every smirk, touch of the hand or stroke of the new guys face but most of all. Dalton knew the look of her face. She was falling for him.
Which meant Grace had put on quite a show in New York. He thought if he bowed to everything she wanted, helped her and showed her just how amazing they were together, it would change her mind
He thought, attending that dinner, with his friends meant something. Not quite a second chance but a step in the right direction, but clearly that meant nothing to her.
Clearly Dalton meant nothing to her.
To come back to this dead-end town
Pick a townie
How dare she humiliate him like this? What would the people closest to him think?
Dalton had to make her change her mind, before she made any more mistakes