I left as soon as I performed in the recital and headed to Pop's diner after bidding goodbye to my parents, who hung around to watch the rest of the concert.
My wrist had healed well enough for me to perform 'Rage Over A Lost Penny' and 'Polonaise'. Yeah, I didn't play the 'Hungarian Rhapsody'. I could feel Grundy staring daggers at my back as I played. Nevertheless, my little concert was a success. I fled the scene with Sam.
Betty and Veronica hadn't arrived yet so I sat next to Jughead while Sam sat next to Kevin.
"It's official," Sam leaned forward, her unfocused eyes sparkling, "I am the number one fan of 'The Human Metronome'."
I chuckled as Kevin said, "I'm so sorry I couldn't be there, Max. I was looking forward to your concert."
Jughead just sat there, with a sour look on his face.
"Sorry, we're late!" Veronica announced as she and Betty glided in the diner, "What's up? Max, are you wearing a dress?"
Sam and I scooted so that the two took their seats next to us. The blonde sat next to me while the dark-haired Latina sat next to Sam. They ordered their signature drinks and made small talk that Jughead refused to join.
I blushed slightly, "Y-yeah…Had a recital today. At the park. I usually wear dresses to recitals."
"She has an odd affliction towards metallic lace. That's what she's wearing, right?" Sam said, stirring her drink.
"Blue and ivory, yeah." Veronica looked impressed, "You look gorgeous. You should wear them more often."
"We tried telling her that so many times, Betty and I – OW – and Sam too." Kevin rubbed his shin which had been assaulted by Sam's walking cane, "Because her androgynous face makes her look like a rebellious boy by the way she dresses."
"Your name was in the score book," Ronnie remembered, "I wonder why there was a zero next to your name when it's obvious that you're a total bomb."
I chuckled nervously, "I may have kicked the person who wrote down the zero in the nuts. He was being inappropriate and I reacted. I think that's why he gave me that score. Not that it matters. What's got you so down, Juggie?" I asked, changing the subject and leaning back and looking at him.
"Twilight's closing." Kevin said.
I almost choked on my spit, "What?"
"Yeah, everyone's talking about it." Sam said, "My parents are against it, but our opinion really doesn't matter."
Jughead got fired up and made a face which clearly meant that he was gonna rant about something, "The Drive-In closing is just one more nail in the coffin that is Riverdale" He began, "No, forget Riverdale, in the coffin of the American dream. A-as the-the godfather of indie cinema, Quentin Tarantino, likes to say-"
"Please, God, no more Quentin Tarantino references." Kevin groaned.
"What? I'm pissed." Juggie stated, "And not just about losing my job. The Twilight Drive-In should mean something to us."
"It does, Juggie." I said.
"Then, people should be trying to save it." He glanced at me.
"In this age of Netflix and VOD, do people really want to watch a movie in a car? I mean, who even goes there?" Veronica asked.
"People who want to buy crack." Sam chimed.
"And cinephiles" I said.
"Yes, Lis, and car enthusiasts." Jughead said, "Right, Bets?"
The blonde was staring off into space. Jughead's question brought her out of her daze, "Totally."
"Anyway, it's closing because the town owns it, but didn't invest in it." He continued his rant, "So when an anonymous buyer made Mayor McCoy an offer, she couldn't refuse the anonymous buyer? What do they have to hide?"
"No one cares."
"I do!" Jughead snapped. I rubbed his back gently, trying to loosen the tension.
Has he always been this lean?
"Also, you guys should all come to closing night." He thought for a while, "I'm thinking 'American Graffiti'… or is that too obvious?"
"Too obvious." I said.
"I vote for anything starring Audrey Hepburn." Veronica piped in, "Or Cate Blanchett."
"Or the Talented Mr. Ripley." Kevin turned to Veronica excitedly.
"I really don't have a preference." Sam stirred her drink, which had somehow materialised on the table during the heated one-sided conversation with Juggie. "I can feel you all staring at me. Stop it."
"Betty, your choices?" Kevin asked.
Betty had slipped into a trance again.
"Everything okay, B?" Ronnie frowned at the blonde.
"Yeah, I'm just thinking." She shook her head, "Um, 'Maybe Rebel Without a Cause'?"
"Lis, what about you?" Jughead nudged me with his elbow.
"Hmm," I bit my lip, thinking, "I think… 'Casablanca'? Or maybe 'Guns of Navarone'?"
Jughead grinned at me to which I responded with a bright smile.
Suddenly, Mrs. Lodge appeared, bringing with her our order, "Here you go, kids."
"Foooood~" I moaned again, "Thank you, Mrs. Lodge."
She smiled and walked away. At another booth, Cheryl sat with her 'friends', trash-talking Mrs. Lodge.
Veronica got up and went straight to them, but her mom handled the situation like a fucking boss.
"Your mom's badass," I said, swatting away Jughead's hand as it reached for my fries. He made a face at me and I smiled, tilting my head towards the plate, making the 'Go ahead' gesture. He grinned back and reached for the fries.
The dark-haired Latina just smirked at me in response of my praise.
"Now, that's an odd combo of people." Kevin said, frowning.
We all turned to look at Archie, his dad and Geraldine fucking Grundy walking into the diner.
"What? What?" Sam complained, "I can't see!"
"It's the Andrews with Grundy." Veronica told her.
"I'll be right back." Betty got up.
"No, Betty." I tried to grab her hand but she had already escaped.
Jughead called after her, "No, don't-"
"Wait, what's happening?" Kevin demanded.
"I'm as lost as you are, Kev." Sam sighed, sipping her vanilla milkshake.
Jughead was staring at Betty and Archie as I stole a bite from his burger. He noticed this and sent me a faux-angry look. I grinned widely at him.
He, then, raised his fingers and wiped away the mayonnaise I didn't know I had on my lower lip. The moment he did that, I kid you not, my heart started pounding. It was so loud that I failed to notice Kevin raising his eyebrows at us as Jughead used a napkin to clean the mayo from his forefinger.
Betty and Archie walked out of the diner and were soon engaged in a heated debate.
Veronica stared at them, excited and curious at the same time, "What's happening out there? Do we know? Is it about me?"
"I have a strong inkling," Jughead huffed, still sour about the drive-in, "and no. Also, I'd let it go." He advised Ronnie.
Too loud.
But, Ronnie being who she is, said, "Yes, but you're you, and I'm me. You do you, girl, I'll be back." And left to join the blonde and the redhead's conversation.
"What was it like before she got here?" Kevin asked, exasperatedly, "I honestly cannot remember."
"And me." Sam said.
My heart is pounding too lo-
"Archie is screwing Grundy." I blurted out.
"Max!" Jughead hissed, looking at me with disbelief. Kevin's jaw dropped as Sam almost choked on her milkshake.
"What?" I asked, defensively, "They're bound to know sooner or later." Turning to them, I said, "Just keep your mouths shut. Don't tell anyone."
"What are you guys talking about?" I asked Jughead and Archie who were huddled together in a corner of the hallway, whispering.
Both of them jumped, startled by my appearance.
"Do you think Betty will write about me and Grundy in the paper?" Archie asked in a low voice.
"Okay, are you an idiot? Why would she do something that would hurt you?" At this, Jughead made an 'I-told-you-so' at Archie.
"But maybe she has a point." Jughead stated, 'she' referring to Betty. "What do you see happening with Grundy, long-term? What do you want?"
Archie sighed, "I want to be with her. I don't know how, but I wanna hang on to what we have for as long as possible."
"Yup." Juggie said, sticking a flyer on the wall, "I feel that. Trying to hold on to something a lot older than me, too."
I touched his arm in a comforting way, sending him a smile. He copied my action.
"Just" The redhead stated, "If Betty's gonna do anything crazy, can you two please let me know so I can do something to stop it?"
"Sure." I said, "Don't worry about it."
Archie nodded gratefully and left.
"You're playing 'Casablanca' on the closing day?" I asked Juggie, surprised after reading the hand-out, "I thought it would be 'Rebel Without A Cause'."
"Well, it was a tough competition." He smirked, "And then I remembered how much you love 'As Time Goes By'.
I linked my arm with his as we walked to class, touched by his words.
That evening, I paced around my room.
Need to write new poems. But on what?...Friendzone?
I sat down at my study table, picked up a pen and started scribbling.
'I know I don't own y-' I paused, horrified at the fact that Jughead's face came to my mind. I all but slammed the pen on the table and hid my face in my hands, trying to erase his image.
No, no, no, no. Why is this happening? Why do I see him every time I write something? That's why I stopped writing in the first place.
I let out the loudest sigh and picked up my pen, 'It can't be helped' and started scribbling.
'-ou,
and perhaps I never will….-'
"Dad, mom, you guys going to the drive-in tomorrow?" I asked during dinner.
"I wooed your dad by making him watch that movie." Mom grinned, flipping her dark hair, "Of course we are going."
Dad snorted, "I remember me wooing you instead of the other way around. By dressing up like James Dean." He cut into the meatloaf.
"You looked silly, cosplaying like James Dean." Mom took a sip of her wine, "I took pity on you. Anyway," She turned to me, "You'll be going with Jughead, I presume."
I blushed a little, moving the food around in my plate with a fork, "Yeah. He works there. Don't want him to be alone."
"I think that's a good idea." Dad said, taking a bite of his food, "That kid needs friends to take care of him. I haven't seen PJ around. Wonder where he is. Hey, you up for a Star Wars marathon, kiddo?"
"Am I ever not?" I grinned.
"Oh, Jesus. Please." Mom closed her eyes and sighed, "You two will pig out on popcorn and soda the whole night, won't you?"
"Yes." Dad and I chimed.
It's an early update! Yessss!
I love you all for all that positive response. Thank you so so much.
Someone asked me why there's a zero next to Max's name in the score book. I hope this chapter answers your question. I'm quite excited to see your reactions for the next chapter.
You know the drill! Please leave a review or follow/favorite. Thank you so much for reading!
