The following weeks had been weighing heavily on the entire town. Pop's had been practically abandoned, Veronica's dad had returned to Riverdale, I was getting letters from my father now wanting to talk and my hand was still in a cast. I had broken it pretty bad. "It's another win for the bad guys." Jughead commented one day at lunch. "No one was there, his entire staff quit."
"Not everyone." I sighed. "I'm still technically employed there. I'm going there every night for a shift but I'm barely there for an hour before he sends me home. As much as I help, no one even shows. He told me that he's not sure how much longer he can keep it open. He's hemoraging money."
"It's because of what happened to my dad." Archie sighed. "People are feaking out. And I gotta be honest, I don't see myself going back anytime soon."
"Wait...I'm sorry." Betty said. "Am I hearing acceptance? I'm not letting one psychopath with a gun dictate what happens to our place. Jug, you went crazy trying to save the drive-in."
"I can't take on nay more social issues right now." Jughead said. "My hands are full."
"With your dad, of course. And he should be your priority. I'll take point on helping Pop Tate."
"I'll help." Veronica added. "Anything to get me away from my parents, I'm in."
"Me too." I agreed. "You're gonna need someone who knows the place inside and out in order to save it."
"Another B, V and L team up." Jughead mused as he started to gather his things. "They should really make a video game about you guys. I gotta jet. I'm off to meet my dad's court apointed joke of a lawyer at the sherifs station."
"I'm gonna come with you, Jug." Archie said, gathering his stuff as well. "I gotta drop off some flyers for Sheriff Keller." The two boys left.
TIMESKIP
"You got another letter from your father." Mum said, setting the envelope on the counter. I scoffed, pushing it away with my syrup covered fork.
"I have no desire to talk to him." I told her. "He ruined our lives."
"He didn't-"
"He's in jail, we lost most of our money, Paris is drinking their way through the country, Chloe's gone, and that's off the top of my head."
"I understand that, sweetheart, but, he's still your father."
"I don't care." I told her. I put my fork down and grabbed my bag. "I'll see you later." I hurried out of the house, jumped on my bike and headed to school. I got there relatively early, and found myself in the cafeteria by myself, papers scattered around me, pen clutched in between my teeth as I looked them over.
"Hey Lia." A voice greeted. I looked up to see Cheryl walking up to me. I gave her a small smile.
"Morning." I responded. Cheryl did a quick sweep of the room before pressing a kiss to my temple. "Hey!" I protested.
"Don't worry." Cheryl slid into a seat next to me. "I'm not wearing my lipstick yet." Cheryl looked over the papers. "What are you doing?"
"I'm trying to figure out how we're gonna save Pop's." I sighed, my pen tapping against the hard surface of the table. "He's hemorrhaging money keeping it open, and he still wants to keep paying me. I keep on refusing but…" I sighed. "It's still not enough."
"You'll figure something out." Cheryl said. I turned to her and smiled. She returned it with a half-smile of her own. "And whatever you decide to do, I'll back you up."
"Thank you."
TIMESKIP
I met up with Betty, Veronica and Kevin in the Blue and Gold room later that day to discuss what we were going to do with Pop's. "We can't let the terrorists win." Betty stated. "We need to host an event at Pop's that reminds the town of simpler times. Like a throwback to when the Shoppe first opened it's doors."
"Betty, I like a good milkshake as much as any girl." Veronica started. "And Pop's puts Serendipity 3's to shame, but why this hill to die on?"
"Orange freezes with my mum and Polly after ballet. Chicken noodle soup with my dad after ice-skating. Grilled cheeses with Archie on the last day of summer vacation."
"I know what you mean." I sighed. "Sundee's that towered over my head on the weekends after church with Nonna and Chloe, sneaking out there with my first girlfriend after midnight, and, don't hate me here, the Serpents love hanging there every Thursday night when they know no one is around."
"V, it where Lia and I met you for the first time. It's where I met you for the first time." Betty directed that at Kevin. "Also...Jug. He may lose his dad, but maybe I can save this one place for him, for all of us." There was a knock on the door, and a man stepped in.
"Hey Veronica." He greeted. I straightened in my seat. Hiram Lodge. I had only ever spoken to him once over the phone, and that was barely a conversation, I just handed the phone over to FP. He was holding a gift in one hand and cradling a bouquet of flowers in his arms. "May I speak to you?"
"Daddy?" Veronica questioned.
"Daddy?" Betty and Kevin chorused. And with that, Veronica and her father left the room.
TIMESKIP
We returned to class, and Principal Weatherbee decided to drop in. "May I have everyone's attention?" He called, causing us to stop what we were doing and look up at him. "I have some...tragic news to share. Ms Grundy, who was a teacher here last semester, was found…" Murdered in her Greendale home last night."
"Oh my God." Kevin breathed.
"I know some of you were students of hers and that this news will be difficult to process." I watched as Archie quickly gathered his things and raced out the door, ignoring calls for him to come back. Kevin and I shared a look. Archie was not going to be fine by the end of the week.
TIMESKIP
I found out late the next night that Pop Tate was selling the Shoppe. He then fired me. Gave me a hefty final paycheck that he refused to let me ignore and sent me on my way. I was over at Cheryl's house under the guize of studying. She had moved into Thistlehouse, a smaller estate that her family owned. It was nice, but not as extravagant as Thornhill. There was a knock at the door, and Cheryl went to answer it. "Hobo. Bride of Hobo." She greeted. "Welcome to Thistlehouse. Mother's in the conservatory, follow me." I stood from my spot to follow her.
"Hey." Betty greeted, falling into step with me. "I didn't know you and Cheryl were friends."
"Well, you save someone's life, you get pretty close." I told her. We all sat down to talk. It was a very tense affair. Cheryl on one end of the table, her mother on the other. Betty and Jughead were sitting across from me at the longest end of the table. Penelope was still red and wrapped in bandages, I didn't comment.
"Thank you for sitting down with us."
"Of course Betty, you're family." Cheryl told her.
"Ok, the reason we're here…" Jughead started.
"FP's lawyer thinks that if the family of the victim shows mercy-" Betty continued.
"Mercy." Penelope interrupted. "That's why you're here?"
"Well, it's an appeal for leniency from you." Jughead explained. "To reduce my dad's sentence."
"Where was your father's mercy when I spent those countless nights walking the halls of Thornhill in agony obsessing over what was happening to JJ, imagining the worst?" Cheryl snapped. I extended my leg, gently brushing my toes over Cheryl's exposed calf to remind her that I was here for her. "Where was your father's mercy when I slept under the same roof as a cold blooded killer night after night."
"Cheryl." Betty said. "FP didn't kill Jason. Ok? That was your dad. You saw the video."
"If it were up to me, I'd watch FP fry in the electric chair." Penelope commented.
"We need this sordid chapter closed forever and FP is the last lose end to tie up. I will not have a living, breathing reminder of the darkest chapter of my life walking the streets of Riverdale." Cheryl snapped.
TIMESKIP
Even later that night, Cheryl and I retreated to her room. The second the doros were closed, I wrapped Cheryl in a hug, holding her close. She buried her head in the curve of my neck. I held her tight, gently swaying us back and forth. "Do you want me to appeal?" Cheryl muttered.
"Why would I want you to do that?" I replied softly.
"You're a Serpent, aren't you?" I pulled back from the hug to look at her.
"How did you…?" Cheryl averted her eyes.
"The day you saved me, you gave me your jacket and...I saw the insignia." Cheryl looked up at me through her lashes. "He's your...leader?"
"Look." I separated from the hug and cupped Cheryl's cheeks. "Just because I'm a Serpent doesn't mean I condone everything they do. My first priority is if you are ok. If you don't want to appeal, then don't. I'll sopourt you in whatever you do. I love you, Cheryl, you need to do what you have to do for yourself."
"Would you be ok if he stayed in jail?"
"The Serpents can survive, the senior members look after evrryone esle, so we'll be fine." Cheryl nodded.
"Ok…" Cheryl sighed. I pullec Cheryl closer to me, pressing a tender kiss to her lips.
TIMESKIP
Cheryl did end up making the appeal, for reasons unknown to me. I, however, was unable to attend court alongside her, so I was put up to maning the grill at Pop's. I was on my break when Josie and Melody walked in. I leant up against the counter, clad in the old Pop's uniform and sneakers with my hair tight against my head in a Dutch braid. Mum had opted to stay home tonight, but wished me luck and handed me an envelope with what I belived to be money to sneak into Pop's till to help him out. Cheryl hopped on the bench next to me and leat into my shoulder. I set my arm on the counter behind her to keep her upright. "Why the hell did you broadcast all over social media that the Pussycats would be doing a free concert here tonight?" Josie demanded, stalking up to Betty.
"I knew if I asked, you would have said-" Betty started.
"No! If my mum even hears that I set foot in this place-"
"Josie, you care about this place. I know you do! I see you here all the time."
"Betty, even if I wanted to help, I'm down a Cat. Valerie has a norovirus-"
"I don't mind stepping in." Cheryl interrupted. "After all, if you can be a RIver Vixen, Josie, I can be a Pussycat." Josie looked sceptical. "As long as it's a cover, I'll know the lyrics."
"I mean, you do ove your cheese frise Josie." Melody commented.
"And if you do this you'll get a basket on the house." I added. Josie looked in between all of us and sighed heavily.
"Fine!" She conceded. "Fine."
TIMESKIP
Josie, Cheryl and Melody stood on the roof of Pop's, each decked out in the retro uniform and sporting the signature Pussycat ears.
The Pussycats -
My milkshake brings all the boys to the yard
And they're like, it's better than yours
Damn right, it's better than yours
I can teach you, but I have to charge
My milkshake brings all the boys to the yard
And they're like, it's better than yours
Damn right, it's better than yours
I can teach you, but I have to charge
Josie (Cheryl and Melody) -
I know you want it
The thing that makes me
What the guys go crazy for
They lose their minds
The way I wine
I think it's time (La-la, la-la, la)
Warm it up (La-la, la-la, la)
The boys are waiting (La-la, la-la, la)
Warm it up (La-la, la-la, la)
The boys are waiting
The Pussycats -
My milkshake brings all the boys to the yard
And they're like, it's better than yours
Damn right, it's better than yours
I can teach you, but I have to charge
My milkshake brings all the boys to the yard
And they're like, it's better than yours
Damn right, it's better than yours
I can teach you, but I have to charge
I applauded along with everyone else as the song came to an end. I put my fingers to my mouth and let out a loud whistle, causing Cheryl to look over to me and smile. "Woooh!" I cheered, cupping my mouth so the sound was amplified, "That's my girl!" I smiled and placed my hands over my mouth, blowing Cheryl a kiss. Cheryl acted like she caught it and held it to her heart.
TIMESKIP
After the concert, I was manning the grills again. Orders were coming in like crazy and I only had a break when Pop Tate called for everyone to gather around. "I have to put her on the spot." Pop Tate said. He pointed a finger at Betty. "It's thanks to this young lady here that Pop's gets to stay open tonight, tomorrow, as long as you folks keep coming!" I cheered alongside everyone else. I saw the Serpents also clapping reluctantly. "Thanks also to Lia, who, even when no one was coming in, refused to let me sit here all alone, and to the generous donation her mother made for us. And also to the Lodge family. For another donation they just made that gives us a little more cushion to weather any stom that might come up." Everyone clapped again.
TIMESKIP
I sighed as I returned home from Pop's. I parked my bike in the driveway, peeled off my jacket and took off my helmet with a satisfying sigh. My eyes turned to my front door...which was open. My eyebrows frowned together. I got off my bike and slowly approached the door. "Mum?" I called. I pushed the door even more open with my toe. My breath got caught in my throat. "Mum." I whispered, shakily stepping forward. I followed the trail of destruction within my house and found my mother lying in a pool of her own blood. "Mummy." I fell to my knees beside her head, my eyes welling up with tears. "Mum? No...no no no no!"