Chapter 2: Any horror movie amateur would love to visit Thornhill
Especially when it was dark, deadly silent, and Nana Rose Blossom would hide behind the door to welcome you.
It was a little after 5 am and Bughead was just coming back from Reggie's bar, smartly named: Reggie's bar. The boy had yet to accept Veronica's advises in good entrepreneurship and she was obviously cringing at what had become to the place but, respected the man's will.
With the group of friends drinking all night, Jughead left his motorcycle parked at Pop's and they ordered a cab. They were trying their best not to be loud and risk awakening the twins or Nana. Not only did they fail, but she was waiting for them in the dark with a crowbar and a warning.
"Whomever you might be, I am under the serpent's King protection and my house is haunted by the spirit of my grandchild. I'd reconsider your trespassing if I were you."
The said serpent king jumped behind his queen from fear and let out a tiny but audible scream. While Betty froze and skipped a few heartbeats.
"Mrs. Blossom it's us", she quickly responded before turning on the lights in the hall.
"Betty?"
"Yes", she rushed towards her to reassure her by grabbing her arms and take away the crowbar. "Sorry we scared you…"
"I heard a noise of someone sneaking into the house and as I didn't hear the roaring of your engine, I thought…"
"I know, sorry we took a cab. We were just trying not to disturb your sleep."
Jughead was still recovering from the fright next to the door. A few more seconds passed until he regained his ability to move or speak.
"You scared me good Mrs. Blossom. Nice reflexes."
"Where did you get the crowbar?"
"I'm more interested in what you were planning to use it for", he asked visibly worrying.
"Oh well it's dissuasive mainly. I couldn't carry it more than 30 seconds let alone try to hit someone with it."
Although Jughead was still not entirely sure she couldn't, he agreed to the thought.
"Wait, what was that about being under serpent's protection?" Betty recalled.
"I told you it's dissuasive. But not false since you are the king of that gang boy, right?" She stated looking at Jughead.
The king and queen leaving Riverdale for New Haven brought up issues for the south side serpents. Lots have had lost their trust in their leader considering he was half involved most of his senior year. He had left for a dorm school, fainted his own death, and then moved to Yale. An important meeting occurred without the royal couple and one with them in order to reorganize everything. As much as they cared about the serpents, Jug and Betty approved and understood the gang's decision to choose a substitute leader while they were gone. Just as Queen Elizabeth II and her prime minister, Jughead and FP would be the head representative and someone else would be in charge. He figured he could still be a serpent and part of his father's legacy and go to Connecticut.
However, it did not last long before the south side slowly divided itself into new biker clubs born from individualists inside the gang. The serpents shattered and neither the father nor the son had the heart to leave what they had built elsewhere to return and fix it. They decided to host one last meeting in the White Wyrm with all the club members, retired and prospects. They gathered to say goodbye to an area, welcome a new one and reassure that the rules of the serpents will stick forever if a time ever need it.
A time that never came but will, soon enough.
"You do remember the serpents aren't active anymore, do you?"
"I will let you know that the name still gives goosebumps to some."
The man with the crown beanie smiled proudly and, after reconsideration, stared at the old lady with fear again.
"OK and what about that haunted thing you said?"
"Oh!" She paused dramatically, "dissuasive too?" She completed with a laugh.
The blonde looked at her boyfriend amused. He went through so much and he was still frightened by Nana and Cheryl's stories about the place. Something the girls loved to tease him with.
She helped the elder go back to bed and made sure the twins were still asleep before retreating to her room with her man.
"Betty", he started, "what on earth can I say or do to leave this place and go to a hotel?"
She smirked before undressing herself and going to the bathroom to clean her face and brush her teeth. She then went to her side of the bed and began to apply skin cream on her body. Jonesy, still staring at her for an answer, got distracted by the show.
"What are you doing?" His pupils were dilated, and he followed her movements carefully.
"Hydrating my skin?" She replied with an innocent face.
"Don't you usually dot it in the bathroom?" His eyes were filled with lust as he kept them tracing what her hands were doing.
"Wrong, I usually do it in our bathroom. This one is too cold for me. But if you'd rather have me doing it elsewhere I…"
The man leaned to her and grabbed her waist to pull her on to him into the bed. She laughed as he was kissing her body and initiated bedroom exercise.
Betty was resting her head on Jug's chest and he was caressing her hair. It had become a routine for them to wake up like this. None of them would have changed it a bit.
"You realize it's only 6 days, right."
"You mean 6 times more chances of me having a heart attack or having to listen to Cheryl's babbles without killing myself first?"
She straightened up and looked at him, unbelieving.
"Don't you think you are being over dramatic?"
"Don't you think our bed in New Haven is more comfortable?"
She stood up, covered his face with the blanket and left the room while he groaned. Downstairs, the twins were playing hide and seek and a man she'd only met yesterday was chatting with Nana in the kitchen.
"Good afternoon Miss Cooper."
Betty saluted them and went directly for the coffee pot. It was still hot and exactly what she needed to proceed the day.
"Good afternoon."
Steps were heard from the stairs.
"Juggie found!" Yelled Juniper when she saw him.
He snorted and took the girl in his arms to bring her with him to the kitchen. She was apparently very happy to be.
"Daggie I find you after. Now I stay with Juggie."
"Are you sure you want to let your brother alone in the house? He trusted you to find him." interrupted the Great-grand-mother.
The baby girl looked confused. She swung her head between Jughead and Roseanna before turning to the new friend of her.
"Justin what do I do?"
She seemed nervous and the three adults burst in laugh before the one holding her added:
"Why don' you go looking for your brother and when you do, you two come back here so your auntie and me can play with you for a bit and let Justin take care of Nana?"
The little girl was so enthusiastic, she fussed in the man's arms so he would release her and then she stormed out of the kitchen.
"Ok I do this", she yelled while running.
"Mornin'", greeted Jug to the rest of the room.
Burden free, he leaned over to the counter to take a cup of coffee and noticed his girlfriend had been still the whole time. He examined her and stated:
"Coffee is not strong enough to reboot you anymore?"
She resurfaced and spotted her man in front of her with amused eyes. Then she saw what time it was on the clock: 1.30 PM.
"We're so late!" She said running through the kitchen to the stairs and then stopped abruptly. "Justin, we have plans for lunch but we will be here on time so you can take Mrs. Blossom to her appointments, is it OK?"
"Yeah perfect Miss Cooper."
"Call me Betty please", she smiled and headed back to the room after waving at her other half to come with her.
The couple entered the room and she rushed to the bathroom to get ready to leave and called her boyfriend.
"Can you check my messages and tell Varchie that we are on our way for brunch?"
The man executed himself and grinned when he acknowledged the 10th notifications from Veronica.
"We might need to invent a serious excuse for our late whereas this was your idea to reunite for brunch", he shouted to her over the shower noise.
"I know, I forgot to put my alarm and obviously you didn't as well."
"I was otherwise busy you see."
Before he could hear her snorting from last night's memories, a little bump came from the wardrobe and he stepped back with his hand on his chest. He called her out and didn't want to move or break eye contact with the furniture. She returned in the room, a towel wrapped around her and mocked him for his attitude.
"Jughead Jones, you need to chill out. It's just a…"
A little kid jumped out of the wardrobe and into Betty's arms with a laugh. She screamed and fell with him on the floor in surprise. When she realized it was just her nephew, she began to laugh with him, especially when they both saw Jughead's livid face.
"Found you auntie Betty!"
"I'm going to shower before we go the hell out of this place."
The two people on the floor waited for him to lock himself in the other room before pursuing.
"Good job Dagwood! Did your auntie Cheryl put you up to scare Jughead every time you can?"
The little one gagged and went downstairs to search for his sister.
"Bett's, you have missed calls and messages from the Lodge Imperatriz, but I forgot to read them. Be out in five. Can you make me a couple of pancakes for the ride?"
The girl put her phone down and finished her preparation. The couple left the mansion 30 minutes later. Justin had call them a cab to retrieve the motorcycle at Pop's. She grabbed her phone and put it in her bag without looking at it.
They got to the diner and got back the helmets and equipment they had let there the night before. Just when they were leaving, Jughead's phone rang. He saw Veronica's name and smirked because of the roast he was going to receive for being 1 hour late and not answering their texts.
"Your highness, no need to worry we are on our way. We just had to go back for my moto and…"
He frowned his eyebrows and turned back to look at Betty, confused. She wanted to ask what was happening but he pressed his finger on her mouth before she could open it. She would have been mad and call him rude if it wasn't for the concern look on his eyes. Something had happen. This didn't look like a /Veronica was conjuring all of her ancestors to curse them for being late to see them/ face.
"OK slow down, is Archie with you?" He precipitated himself. "Alright we'll be here soon enough", he meant to hang up but quickly returned to the speaker of the phone, "is there any chance you have food ready at your place though?"
Betty was completely lost. She waited for her boyfriend to fill her in and when he finally put his phone down she jumped into him instantly.
"What is it? Why did you ask if she had food at her place?"
"'Cause that's where we are going instead of her fancy brunch restaurant."
She looked even more confused and irritated because her man took his time delivering the news. He interrupted her before she could ask again, visibly annoyed.
"Something came up and she wants us to join her ASAP. And before you kill me with those eyes, I don't know anything else OK? Climb in."
She put her helmet on, secured her jacket and gloves. When Jughead started the engine she passed over it and leaned behind him, patting his sleeve to notify she was ready to go.
She never liked when he over speed. Enjoying the rides and the freedom as a passenger more when he kept low during a ballad. But then, he wasn't fast enough for her. She had to know what was going on.
They arrived in front of the Pembrooke and nearly ran to Veronica's place. Nothing had changed. Except the fact that no butler wanted to work here anymore. Well not specifically here, but for any Lodges actually. The name got tarnished all over the state after Hiram's criminal activities got published after his passing. Alice swore she wasn't behind it and Veronica never knew how the news got a hold of it in the first place. It was part of the mystery surrounding her father's death. She asked Betty not to investigate and leave it to Hermosa who needed this to cope with the situation. Besides, she had more use in her friend than in a high school detective who already had her hands full of intrigues. The blonde respected her wishes and they didn't spoke about anything regarding the case since. Letting Veronica's half-sister obsessing over it on her own.
The couple crossed the entrance and Archie stood up from the couch to meet them. He looked worried and, tired. Almost as if he didn't had enough sleep the last night. The same dirty thought came into Bughead's mind and they looked at each other in agreement.
"Hey Arch, where is Veronica? What's going on? Why couldn't we meet at brunch like scheduled?" Betty threw out quickly and was already searching for her friend.
"Hey guys, she's in the kitchen preparing your breakfast", he said looking at Jughead.
"What do you mean? Is everything alright? It didn't seem so when he had her over the phone."
She became very anxious and walked towards the corridor. Steps from heels could be heard from it and, shortly after, the brunette appeared with a pancake plate and maple syrup on her arms. She noticed her friends and ran to Betty.
"Oh my god thank you, you arrived. Here", she gave everything she had to the person who ordered it, "hope it will satisfy your endless appetite long enough for me to reveal the latest and unexpected news I have."
He took it and arranged it on the table. A great part of him wanted to sit and start eating but he knew better but to do that in front of the two women standing in front of him. So he decided to play along with the infinite suspense she built. Veronica looked upset and as confused as anyone else in the room. The blonde wasn't that patient though.
"V. would you please indulge us and tell us what happened?"
The corridor's door opened wide and someone caring a set of coffee and mugs entered. Bughead gasped at the sight of who it was, unbelieving.
"What a surprise! Veronica, you didn't tell me you invited all of your gang to join us. Not that I wasn't already delighted with the presence of Archibald when I arrived."
The appointed man stayed silent but was, clearly, upset. And the girl stood up to help settle the drinks at the table.
"We're gonna need more mugs, I'll be right back."
The person left the room and the silent remained for a moment. Until the raven-haired girl took the speak.
"That right here, was my news. She literally showed up here this morning, after all this time. Just like that. I have no clue as to why."
The last newcomers were still in shock and their eyes ran millions of questions. Only one came out of one of them.
"So Archie stayed the night here?"
"Really Jughead, that's all you have right now? And why didn't you look at your phone all morning B.?"
"I'm sorry I didn't put my alarm on and then we were so late that we just rushed to meet you guys and…"
She stopped, still processing who she saw walking in the apartment like nothing had happened.
"I can't believe it after all this time", said her boyfriend.
"Yeah me neither", added Archie.
"Well", started Veronica, "she's been acting like we saw each other yesterday."
"That is weird", continued Jones.
"Do you think it's because Arch was here with you?" Continued Betty.
"Who knows? Probably. I have no idea what she wants or what kind of sick game she is playing but I will not be a part in it", completed the brunette.
"A part of what?" Intruded said person behind them.
Veronica cleared her throat and took a deep breath before crossing her arms and getting a threatening face and address the intruder.
"A part of your scheme, mom."
The other three aligned with her and were prepared to support their friend in this confrontation she had been waiting for the past year. Hermione sighed deeply. She put down the mugs and looked at her daughter with regrets.
"Can we do this in private?" She softly asked. "Please Veronica."
"I'm not feeling comfortable leaving the two of them alone after everything that happened", stated Archie on his way to his truck.
"Me too but we agreed we will leave them sort it out on their own. And V. can call anytime if she needs us."
"All we can do is hope that her visit his nothing but genuine and has no other interest", argued Jughead.
"One can only hope…"
Betty was interrupted by her phone ringing in her bag. She retrieved it and saw her mother's face on it. She pulled away from the boys making plans for lunch, since no one had brunched.
"Hey mom, what's up?"
"Elisabeth are you OK?"
"Yeah I'm fine. Why? You sound frantic."
"I just saw him! Betty they are here, in Green dale!"
"What? Who did you saw? What are you talking about?"
Alice's voice trembled and she passed her phone over to FP.
"Betty, you need to be careful while you stay in Riverdale. You and Jughead need to stay alerted OK?"
"M. Jones I don't understand. Why? Who did my mother saw in Greendale?"
"Chic and Penelope Blossom."