The next few days past eventless, with me continuing to stay with the Cooper's. Before I knew it, it was Monday morning- my first day of school at Riverdale High School. I had gone to stay at Dad's trailer the night before to get a good night's sleep away from baby screaming in the middle of the night for my big day the next morning. Dad made pancakes for Jug and me, and although they weren't as good as Pop's, they past my pancake-ohmmeter. Dad offered to drop Jug and I off at school but Jughead declined, saying that he'll drive us on his motorbike. I was surprised to say the least, that Jug drove a motorbike, and even more shocked when he told me he was a Serpent now. Dad wasn't the only to change while I was gone apparently.
Jug pulled up at the school parking lot a few minutes later after a breath-taking ride through the streets of Riverdale. Jug swung his arm over my shoulders as we walked into the school. Many kids turned to see who Jughead Jones was being all cosy with, gossiping to their friends. Jughead ignored all the stares and whispers and led me to a door that claimed it was the 'student lounge'. I noticed Archie, Veronica and Betty were all sitting on a group of chairs in the middle of the room, Jughead walking towards them.
"Who's your new girlfriend, Jones?" A Korean guy wearing a varsity jacket called out from the other side of the room, where he sat with a group of Jocks. "If Betty's single I'll take her." The jocks laughed.
I saw Jughead tense, clutching his hands into fists. I placed a hand on his arm, trying to calm him.
"Not that it's any of your business Reggie, this is my sister JB, and you stay away from her", Jughead warned, taking a seat on the couch beside Betty.
"Or what Jughead?" The guy apparently named Reggie taunted.
"Or you'll deal with the Serpents", a male voice warned. I turned to see where the voice had come from and I saw Ryder walking into the room. I smiled at him as he came to sit beside me, placing his arm over my shoulders.
"Oh, so she's your girl, Ryder", Reggie said, continuing to annoy everyone. "You finally found yourself a chic, and a hot one at that."
"Shut the hell up Reggie", called out Archie, also wearing a letter-man jacket.
"You ok?" Ryder asked me quietly so no one else could hear.
"Yeah, I fine", I told him, but Ryder didn't look to convinced. He placed his hand on my chin, turning it gently so I had to look into his eyes.
"Are you sure?" He asked, looking concerned.
"To be honest, I hate bullies so much, and I'm just trying to hold back this urge to go up and slap the smug look off that idiot's face", I answered Ryder, the look on his face telling me that my answer was not what he expected. Before he could say something to my odd claim, Betty interrupted, wondering if I would like to go on my tour of the school now. I looked at Ryder, smiling to show him I was fine, and took off with Betty.
"So, I will show you some of the main classrooms, then the cafeteria", Betty said as she stared her tour. A guy came with us, someone who was sitting with Betty and her friends before in the lounge, but I didn't meet.
"This is Kevin, by the way, Kevin Keller", Betty explained when she saw me looking curiously at the guy. "Kev, why don't you tell JB a bit about herself while we walk to the cafeteria?"
"A little about myself… well, I am the sheriff's son, which is probably the only reason Betty hangs out with me, for when she goes sleuthing as Nancy Drew", at this Betty elbowed Kevin in the gut, telling him that 'we are best friends and you know it, and not just for your dad'.
Kevin continued as he rubbed his side, laughing, "Anyway, Dad's the sheriff, Mum's a soldier in Iraq right now, and I'm gay." He said it rather bluntly, as if he didn't care what people thought about him, which I bet he didn't.
"Cool", I said, not sure what else to say.
…oOo…
We continued their tour and then Betty showed me to my first class, Bio. As I surveyed the room after the teacher introduced me, I realised there was only one spare seat.
As I sat down beside the girl with fiery red hair, she spoke, quietly enough for only me to hear. "You're Jellybean, aren't you?"
I looked up at her, confused about how she knew my real name. "Yeah, I am" I answered, not sure what to say.
"Years ago, we were in prep together, and I was sitting alone when you came over to play with me. You were the only one who would talk to me, no one else liked me." The girl's face was full of gratitude. "You continued being nice to me through-out primary school when no one else would, and I thank you for that."
"Your welcome", I replied smiling, now remembering the girl. "You're Chery, l right? Cheryl Blossom?"
The girl nodded, smiling.
…oOo…
"So, have you made any new friends?" Jughead questioned me at the cafeteria table, trying to steal my food. Jughead and food, seriously!
I swatted his hand away. "Well, I wouldn't say new friend, but a girl talked to me earlier, and she reminded me about, when we were younger I used to play with her. Cheryl Blossom. Do you know her?"
Everyone at the table -which included Jug, Betty, Archie, Veronica, Ryder and Kevin- looked up at me.
Archie answered for the others. "Everyone knows Cheryl, it's just that she's hardly ever nice to others."
"Yeah," Betty agreed with Archie. "Just be careful around her, she might stab you in the back."
"Thanks for the warning guys, but I'm pretty sure she just wanted to be friends." I told the others.
We continued eating our lunch, with Jug trying to steal my food most of the time, him already finished his.
"How's Caddy?" I asked Betty; I hadn't seen the baby sine yesterday morning and I was missing her.
"She's great," Betty answered, smiling at the mentioned of the sweet baby. "She slept longer last night, which is good."
Archie, Veronica and Kevin all looked confused. "Whose Caddy, and why is she staying at your house?" Veronica asked.
I realised that those three must not know about Caddy.
"Caddy's my baby sister", I explained. "my Mom died while in labour Cadance survived. I left her with my friends in Toledo while I came here and told Jughead about her. We then went back and got her, and then explained everything to my Dad. We then thought it would be best if Caddy stayed with the Cooper's, with Alice, because it's not safe in my Dad's trailer on the South-Side, and Alice agreed."
The other blinked in shock for a moment.
"And I thought my family was complicated", Archie mumbled.
I looked at him questioningly. He began to explain. "My Mom and Dad were separated, and about to get a divorce before one day when my Mom came over randomly and she and my Dad started working together on him campaigning for Mayor."
I nodded slowly.
"And my, family… Well you already know about my family", Betty sighed.
"Let's just agree that everyone at this table has family drama" Jughead said causing a mumble of agreements.
"Yep, I sure do" stated Veronica.
"Count me in", Archie said.
"Yep" Kevin said.
"Same here" Betty put in.
"Boy, don't I" Jug said, looking at me. "No offense."
"None taken", I said, laughing. "Who doesn't have family drama these days though?"