November tenth seemed to start like any other day. Betty Cooper woke up and got ready for school, and was on her way to grab some breakfast when she found a note her parents had left for her and her sister.

Dear Polly and Betty,
Your father and I had to leave early to cover a new story I suspect you will find out about later. We will see you this afternoon. Have a good day, girls!
Love, Mom

Betty picked up the note and walked back upstairs, knocking on her sister's door.

"What is it?" Polly called back.

"Mom and Dad are out, so you've gotta be ready to drive!" Betty told her.

"Where'd they go?" Polly asked, opening the door. Half of her long blonde hair was curled, and she held the hot curling iron in her left hand.

Betty passed her the note to read, and Polly quickly scanned it before handing it back.

"I wonder what news story she's talking about," Polly said, drawing her eyebrows together in a confused expression.

"I have no clue. I guess it's big, or they wouldn't have left so early," Betty said, shrugging. "Mom said we'd find out later, so we'll just have to wait."

"I hate waiting," Polly commented, sighing.

"I know you do, but sometimes it's a must," Betty told her sister, grinning. "Alright, well, get ready quickly," she added, and walked back to the kitchen.

The atmosphere at Riverdale High seemed completely normal that morning, and Betty was beginning to wonder what sort of big news it was that her parents were reporting on, and if it could really be considered big if no one seemed to know or care.

"Kevin!" Betty called out as she saw her best friend arrive at school. She rushed over, a smile lighting up her face.

"Hey, Betty," Kevin replied, also smiling widely as he slung his backpack over his shoulder.

Betty forgot about this mysterious news that seemed to be happening, at least until halfway through her first period biology class, where the secret was revealed.

"Students of Riverdale High, if I could have your attention for a moment," Principal Weatherbee announced over the intercom, disrupting the teacher as he was speaking. "It is with a heavy heart that I announce the passing of one of your dear classmates Archie Andrews, who was found dead last night at Sweetwater River."

All breath seemed to leave the room. There was shock and surprise written on everyone's faces, and while no one dared move, eyes darted all around, wondering if anyone had known this information previously.

"If anyone has any information on this tragic event, I strongly urge you to come forward to me or Sheriff Keller. You may return to your lessons," Principal Weatherbee finished.

Betty didn't know how Principal Weatherbee could expect them to continue on with any of their lessons the rest of the day. She was barely able to focus during the rest of that class, her mind running one hundred miles per hour, trying to process what was happening.

Archie was dead. That must have been the news her mother and father were reporting on, of course. A murder in a small town like Riverdale… it would put everyone on edge.

After spending the next two and a half classes distracted out of her mind, Betty was at lunch, where tables were buzzing at the news.

Of course they were, Betty thought. Archie was captain of the football team, a talented singer and songwriter, the most popular boy in school, and not to mention, extremely good looking. He was not the kind of person that would usually be murdered.

"Betty! Oh my god, you heard what happened, right?" Kevin asked in one breath, rushing over to her from the lunch table he sat at.

"How could I not? Everyone is talking about it, plus Principal Weatherbee announced it," Betty replied, walking towards their lunch table.

"Archie Andrews, most popular and handsome boy at Riverdale High, found dead. This has got to be a movie," Kevin said, his mind blown. His dad had been called late the night before and had to leave early that morning, but Kevin himself had not been told what any of it was about.

Betty took a deep breath, sitting down at the table. She wanted to deny it, and wake up the next day in a world where Archie Andrews, the boy next door, was still alive and well.

"How are you, though, really?" Kevin asked. "I know you were best friends with him when you were little, and have a little crush on him…?"

Betty shook her head, looking out at the crowded field where the tables were, and all the students gathered. "I don't want to accept it, I guess. I don't ever want to not see him through my bedroom window. We haven' been the closest in recent years… he was so busy… but we were still friends, you know?" she said, barely realizing she had any of those feelings before she said them out loud.

Kevin nodded, understanding his friend perfectly. He too had been friends with Archie, but nowhere near as close as Betty was with him.

Meanwhile, other students were grappling with this news differently.

Veronica Lodge was seen glaring at everyone, her eyes red and puffy, but no tears in sight. She looked as if she silently wanted to accuse the entire student body of killing Archie Andrews, and people assumed she would.

Jason Blossom had gone back to normal, in a turn of events. Ever since Archie Andrews had taken his spot as captain of the football team, he'd had a grudge against him, and Jason had been sulking around the school since September. He was seen whispering with Reggie Mantle, both glancing around every so often to see if anyone was listening.

Mrs. Grundy, the music teacher, seemed calmer, much less on edge and jumpy than she had been beforehand. She wasn't stuttering so much, but she still seemed to be looking over her shoulder a lot.

Jughead Jones, one of Archie's childhood friends who no longer talked to him, was like he had always been; a loner, outsider type of guy, standing in a corner of a room but never talking to others. He was surveying all of them, and his mind had probably already come up with who was the killer.

Polly Cooper was talking with her boyfriend, Chuck Clayton, a look of determination and love in her eyes. Neither seemed to be talking about Archie's death, but instead planning some secret event.

Betty knew this murder was going to lead to a series of strange events, and none of the scenarios created in her mind seemed to end well. She was preparing for the worst, which is what all of Riverdale should have done the second a murder like this was announced.

Hi! Sorry this part is short, but it's just an introduction to the town and some of its residents. The next chapters will all be longer. This also won't be a super long story, but I was reading a murder mystery and this plot just came to my head so I decided to write it. Hope you enjoy it!